Pneumologie 2015; 69 - A67
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1556659

NUT Midline Carcinoma of the Thorax: Case Report and Review of the Literature

A Harms 1, 2, E Herpel 1, CP Heussel 2, 3, F Herth 2, 4, H Dienemann 2, 5, W Weichert 1, A Warth 1, 2
  • 1Institute for Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Germany
  • 2Translational Lung Research Centre Heidelberg, Member of the German Centre for Lung Research
  • 3Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Thoraxklinik at Heidelberg University, Germany
  • 4Department of Pneumology and Respiratory Critical Care Medicine, Thoraxklinik at Heidelberg University, Germany
  • 5Department of Thoracic Surgery, Thoraxklinik at Heidelberg University, Germany

NUT (nuclear protein in testis) midline carcinomas are exceedingly rare neoplasms with specific molecular alterations and often have a devastating course, whereas correct diagnosis is of utmost importance. Known from the sinunasal region for years, the new 2015 WHO classification for the first time also refers to this entity in the thorax, i.e. the lungs and the mediastinum. However, yet available data on this entity are sparse and a comprehensive review of thoracic NUT midline carcinomas is lacking. Here, we report on a 31 years old female patient with an aggressively growing tumor, localized in the median line that was initially sampled by endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial biopsies. Pathological assessment of the biopsy specimens revealed a NUT midline carcinoma with typical morphological and molecular characteristics, which was further confirmed in the subsequent resection specimen. We describe specific clinical, histomorphological, and molecular characteristics of this tumor and provide a comprehensive review of the literature concerning yet published data on thoracic NUT midline carcinomas.

*Presenting author