Thymomas with postoperative associated diseases

Five patients with invasive thymomas and postoperative associated diseases were studied clinically and histologically three had myasthenia gravis (MG), one had a skin rash, interstitial pneumonia and hypogammaglobulinemia, and one had pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) and hypogammaglobulinemia. Total tumor resection was performed in four patients, and partial resection in one, who had massive pleural dissemination. Thymectomy was performed in the patient with preoperative PRCA, right pneumonectomy in one patient, and right upper lobectomy in one. The epithelial cells in four of the tumors were polygonal, and there were spindle-shaped in the patient with preoperative PRCA. Metastasis and/or local regrowth of the thymomas occurred in two patients, one of whom received chemotherapy. MG was treated with prednisolone and/or azathiopurine, and PRCA was treated with prednisolone and protein anabolic hormone. One patient died of brain metastasis, and three of complications. Only one patient is still alive.In conclusion, metastasis or recurrence of thymoma is likely to be the cause of postoperative associated diseases, and treatment of metastasis or recurrence may be helpful in the management of associated diseases.