Tuberc Respir Dis.  2007 Nov;63(5):454-457. 10.4046/trd.2007.63.5.454.

The Remission of Pure Red Cell Aplasia with a Thymoma after Surgical Resection

• Kim EM
• Kim SH
• Kwon W
• Kim HY
• Kim CW
• Lee BG
• Jung SH
• Lee CK
• Yong SJ

• KMID: 2050481
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4046/trd.2007.63.5.454

Abstract

Thymomas are associated with different paraneoplastic syndromes, with the most clinically important association being with myasthenia gravis, hypogammaglobulinemia, and pure red cell aplasia (PRCA). The optimal therapy for PRCA that complicates a thymoma is unknown, given the rarity of the clinical situation. It has been suggested that remission following surgery alone is uncommon and most patients will require some other form of therapy. We report a case of PRCA with a thymoma in a 59-year-old man who remained in complete remission of the PRCA after surgical resection of the thymoma.

Keyword

Thymoma; Pure red cell aplasia; Surgery

MeSH Terms

Agammaglobulinemia
Humans
Middle Aged
Myasthenia Gravis
Paraneoplastic Syndromes
Red-Cell Aplasia, Pure*
Thymoma*

Figure

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  Figure 1 Contrast enhanced chest CT shows 7.3×5.3 cm, oval shape, well-defined mass within anterior mediastinum. The mass shows heterogeneous enhancement without evidence of invasion through capsule or involvement of nearby structures.

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  Figure 2 Gross appearance reveals an oval solid mass having homogenous pink-white meaty lobules separated by fibrous band.

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  Figure 3 The tumor is composed of epithelioid cells with spindle nuclei and pale chromatin and admixed small lymphocytes (H&E stain, ×400).

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