An occasional diagnosis of myasthenia gravis--a focus on thymus during cardiac surgery: a case report.
BACKGROUND
Myasthenia gravis, an uncommon autoimmune syndrome, is commonly associated with thymus abnormalities. Thymomatous myasthenia gravis is considered to have worst prognosis and thymectomy can reverse symptoms if precociously performed.


METHODS
We describe a case of a patient who underwent mitral valve repair and was found to have an occasional thymomatous mass during the surgery. A total thymectomy was performed concomitantly to the mitral valve repair.


CONCLUSIONS
The diagnosis of thymomatous myasthenia gravis was confirmed postoperatively. Following the surgery this patient was strictly monitored and at 1-year follow-up a complete stable remission had been successfully achieved.
Agrifoglio
Marco
M
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Milan, Via Parea 4, 20138 Milan, Italy. marco.agrifoglio@unimi.it
Barili
Fabio
F
Dainese
Luca
L
Cappai
Antioco
A
Cheema
Faisal H
FH
Biglioli
Paolo
P
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000601:surgery*; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013934:Thymectomy; D013945:Thymoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery