J Clin Neurol.  2007 Sep;3(3):158-160. 10.3988/jcn.2007.3.3.158.

Myasthenia Gravis Appearing After Thymectomy: a Case Report and Review of the Literature

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Cheju National University, Jeju, Korea. neurokang@cheju.ac.kr

Abstract

A small proportion of thymoma patients without myasthenia gravis (MG) have been observed to develop MG after total removal of the thymoma. However, the underlying cause is not yet known due to the rarity of postoperative MG patients. We report a 39-year-old man in whom MG appeared after surgical removal of a thymoma. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed no signs of recurrent or metastatic thymoma. Administration of pyridostigmine bromide resulted in the prompt improvement of myasthenic symptoms. Our observations indicate that postoperative follow-up care with monitoring of possible postoperative MG is necessary after resecting a thymoma.

Keyword

Myasthenia gravis; Thymectomy; Thymoma

MeSH Terms

Adult
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Myasthenia Gravis*
Pyridostigmine Bromide
Thymectomy*
Thymoma
Pyridostigmine Bromide

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