Myasthenia gravis appearing after thymectomy heralding recurrent thymoma

Introduction: Thirty to fifty percent of thymoma patients develop myasthenia gravis (MG). In 1.528% of cases, MG appears many years after removal of a thymoma. Patients and methods: We present a case report of a 72-year-old female who presented with MG four months after total thymectomy. Results: A 72-year-old female patient presents with MG four months after total thymectomy. Imaging revealed a PET-positive nodule anterior to the superior vena cava. By median sternotomy, the nodule was removed at our hospital. Pathology confirmed a recurrent B2/B3 thymoma with R0 resection. No adjuvant therapy was given. Large population studies show the appearance of new-onset MG associated with recurrent thymoma in 3% of cases. Conclusions: New-onset MG postthymectomy heralds recurrent disease in 3% of cases. Thorough screening is needed in such patients.

Publication year:2019

Keywords:A1 Journal article

BOF-keylabel:yes

BOF-publication weight:0.1

CSS-citation score:1

Authors from:Higher Education

Accessibility:Open