Recurrent myasthenia gravis due to a pleural implant 3 years after radical thymectomy

Ann Thorac Surg. 2008 Jul;86(1):299-301. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2008.01.030.

Abstract

Although recurrence of a thymoma is rare, pleural dissemination or local relapses have been described. We present a patient who underwent complete thymectomy for a thymoma, type AB according to the World Health Organization classification and stage II according to Masaoka, followed by adjuvant radiotherapy. Three years later, a relapse of the myasthenic symptoms occurred. An isolated pleural implant above the left diaphragm was removed by video-assisted thoracoscopy. Pathology confirmed the recurrence of the thymoma. As this is a rare occurrence, no precise therapeutic guidelines exist. In our case, surgical resection of the recurrence with adjuvant immunomodulating therapy for myasthenia provided good results.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Male
  • Myasthenia Gravis / diagnosis*
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness / pathology
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / diagnosis
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / surgery*
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Pleural Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Pleural Neoplasms / surgery
  • Prostheses and Implants / adverse effects*
  • Recurrence
  • Reoperation
  • Risk Assessment
  • Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted / methods
  • Thymectomy / adverse effects
  • Thymectomy / methods
  • Thymoma / secondary
  • Thymoma / surgery*
  • Thymus Neoplasms / pathology
  • Thymus Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Treatment Outcome