title: [Reactive benign thymus hyperplasia following cytostatic chemotherapy].
abstract: A space-occupying mediastinal mass was discovered in a 16-year-old boy with metastasizing non-seminomatous testicular tumour six months after successful conclusion of cytostatic chemotherapy. Metastases at other sites were excluded. An enlarged thymus was the only finding at operation. Histological and histochemical examination demonstrated diffuse hyperplasia. The findings demonstrate that reactive benign thymic hyperplasia after cytostatic chemotherapy has to be considered in the differential diagnosis of space-occupying mediastinal lesions. They can also occur in adults. They are benign, explainable as immunological rebound phenomena, and do not require operative intervention. In case of doubt, short-term corticoid administration will diminish the size of the mass and thus confirms the diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Urologische Klinik, Freie Universität Berlin.
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Dieckmann
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Düe
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Bauknecht
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hamm
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D009373:Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / Q000188:drug therapy; D011182:Postoperative Care; D012186:Retroperitoneal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000473:pathology; D013952:Thymus Hyperplasia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors
vernacular_title: Reaktive benigne Thymushyperplasie nach zytostatischer Chemotherapie.