Myasthenia gravis in ectopic thymoma presenting as pleural masses

• Published in: Lung cancer (Amsterdam, Netherlands) Vol. 57; no. 1; pp. 115 - 117
• Main Authors: Kim, Hyo Seok, Lee, Ho Jin, Cho, Soo Youn, Koh, Jae Soo, Ryoo, Baek-Yeol, Kim, Cheol Hyeon, Lee, Jae Cheol
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01-07-2007; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Biopsy, Needle; Cholinesterase Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Choristoma - diagnosis; Choristoma - pathology; Diagnosis, Differential; Diseases of striated muscles. Neuromuscular diseases; Ectopic thymoma; Female; Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Medicine; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Keratin-19 - metabolism; Lung Neoplasms - diagnosis; Lung Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Lung Neoplasms - pathology; Medical sciences; Mesothelioma - diagnosis; Mesothelioma - diagnostic imaging; Mesothelioma - pathology; Middle Aged; Myasthenia gravis; Myasthenia Gravis - complications; Myasthenia Gravis - therapy; Neoplasm Metastasis - diagnostic imaging; Neoplasm Metastasis - pathology; Neurology; Pleural mass; Pleural Neoplasms - diagnosis; Pleural Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Pleural Neoplasms - pathology; Pneumology; Pulmonary/Respiratory; Pyridostigmine Bromide - therapeutic use; Radiography; T-Lymphocytes - pathology; Thymoma - diagnostic imaging; Thymoma - pathology; Thymoma - surgery; Thymus Gland; Thymus Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Thymus Neoplasms - pathology; Thymus Neoplasms - surgery; Treatment Outcome; Tumors; Tumors of the respiratory system and mediastinum; Pleural mass; Ectopic thymoma; Myasthenia gravis; Neuromuscular diseases; Nervous system diseases; Thymoma; Mediastinum disease; Respiratory disease; Malignant tumor; Thymus pathology; Mass; Symptomatology; Cancerology; Thymic epithelial tumor; Benign neoplasm; Ectopia; Inaugural sign; Pleura; Pneumology
• ISSN: 0169-5002; 1872-8332
• DOI: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2007.01.035

Summary Multiple pleural masses were found in a 52-year-old female suggesting malignant mesothelioma or pleural metastasis from other malignancy. Unexpectedly, ectopic thymoma was diagnosed by percutaneous needle biopsy and subsequent myasthenia gravis developed during admission. Although ectopic thymoma in pleura is unusual, it should be considered as one of the possible etiologies causing diffuse pleural masses.