title: Thymoma masquerading as transfusion dependent anemia.
abstract: Pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) is a known entity in clinical medicine. Patients are often transfusion dependent for their whole life. Ascertaining its etiology is always a herculean task. We received a similar transfusion-dependent patient, who on evaluation was found to have thymoma as an etiological factor. Thymoma presenting as PRCA is seen in 2%-5% patients and evaluating PRCA for thymoma is seen in 5%-13% patient. As per the WHO histopathological classification, thymoma has six types and Type A is associated with PRCA and Type B is associated with myasthenia gravis. This correlation was not seen in our patient, who had Type B thymoma. Surgical resection of thymus improves 30% of PRCA and rest needs immunosuppression. Our patient was not the surgical candidate, and hence he was put on chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
authors.forename: Javvid
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Muzamil
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
authors.forename: Aejaz Aziz
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Shiekh
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
authors.forename: Gull Mohammad
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Bhat
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
authors.forename: Abdul Rashid
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Lone
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Hematology, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
authors.forename: Shuaeb
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bhat
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodonsia, Government Dental College, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
authors.forename: Firdousa
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nabi
keywords: Compound mean action potential; large granular leukemia; myasthenia gravis; pure red cell aplasia; repeated nerve stimulation