Recurrent myasthenia gravis due to a pleural implant 3 years after radical thymectomy.
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.
Heyman
Stijn R G
SR
Department of Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium. stijn_heyman@hotmail.com
De Raeve
Hendrik
H
Mercelis
Rudy
R
De Pooter
Christel
C
Van Schil
Paul
P
D000328:Adult; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000473:pathology; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D019736:Prostheses and Implants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012008:Recurrence; D012086:Reoperation; D018570:Risk Assessment; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D013934:Thymectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D013945:Thymoma / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome