title: Autoimmune hepatitis: an uncommon presentation of thymoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In a substantial proportion of patients with thymoma, many different types of paraneoplastic syndromes are observed. The association between thymoma and autoimmune liver diseases, however, has been found in very few cases.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report the case of a 31-year-old man affected by autoimmune hepatitis associated with myasthenia gravis and thymoma, successfully treated with extended thymectomy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patient is free from neoplastic and hepatic disease 4 years after surgery. Eighteen months after thymectomy, an exacerbation of hepatitis was successfully treated with steroids.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To the authors' knowledge, only 7 cases of myasthenia gravis associated with thymoma and autoimmune hepatitis have been reported in the English-language literature. The exact role of thymoma in immune-mediated hepatitis is unclear. It seems likely that thymoma-associated T-cell abnormalities, due to the presence of thymoma, may have a role in the development of this rare clinical triad of autoimmune hepatitis, thymoma and myasthenia gravis.
authors.affiliation:  Thoracic Surgery and Lung Transplant Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Milan - Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mendogni
authors.affiliation:  Thoracic Surgery and Lung Transplant Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Milan - Italy.
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rosso
authors.affiliation:  Thoracic Surgery and Lung Transplant Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Milan - Italy.
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tosi
authors.affiliation:  Thoracic Surgery and Lung Transplant Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Milan - Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Palleschi
authors.affiliation:  Thoracic Surgery and Lung Transplant Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Milan - Italy.
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Righi
authors.affiliation:  Department of Internal Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Milan - Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Minonzio
authors.affiliation:  Pathology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Milan - Italy.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fusco
authors.affiliation:  Thoracic Surgery and Lung Transplant Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Milan - Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nosotti
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers; D019693:Hepatitis, Autoimmune / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D061705:Image-Guided Biopsy; D008297:Male; D013945:Thymoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D015415:Biomarkers