Thymic hyperplasia presenting as anterior mediastinal mass in 2 patients with Graves disease

• Published in: Mayo Clinic proceedings Vol. 77; no. 5; p. 495
• Main Authors: Budavari, Adriane I, Whitaker, Michael D, Helmers, Richard A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01-05-2002
• Subjects: Adult; Female; Goiter - etiology; Graves Disease - complications; Graves Disease - diagnosis; Humans; Male; Mediastinal Diseases - diagnosis; Mediastinal Diseases - drug therapy; Mediastinal Diseases - etiology; Propylthiouracil - therapeutic use; Thymus Gland - diagnostic imaging; Thymus Gland - drug effects; Thymus Hyperplasia - diagnosis; Thymus Hyperplasia - drug therapy; Thymus Hyperplasia - etiology; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
• ISSN: 0025-6196
• DOI: 10.1016/S0025-6196(11)62220-9

Graves disease is an autoimmune thyroid condition characterized by the production of autoantibodies against the thyrotropin receptor. The autoantibodies mimic the effect of the hormone on thyroid cells, which stimulates autonomous production of thyroxine and triiodothyronine. It has been hypothesized that cross-reactivity of autoantibodies may result in Graves ophthalmopathy and dermopathy. A seldom-recognized feature of Graves disease is thymic hyperplasia. We report 2 patients with Graves disease and incidentally discovered anterior mediastinal masses presumed to be thymic hyperplasia. In both cases, these masses regressed spontaneously after treatment of hyperthyroidism.