Abstract
A rare case of thymoma associated with pure red cell aplasia and myasthenia gravis is reported. A 71-year-old female was admitted because of a syncopal attack. She had severe anemia but no muscle weakness. Her chest X-rays revealed enlargement of the superior mediastinum. The chest CT scan showed a smooth and homogeneous tumor shadow in the anterior mediastinum. The titer of anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody was elevated. Bone marrow studies showed predominantly granulopoiesis with little erythropoiesis.
The tumor was resected by extended radical thymectomy. It was 10 × 8 × 3.5 cm in size and 230 g in weight. Though pure red cell aplasia disappeared transitorily after operation, it progressed thereafter. Finally, with the use of steroids and chemotherapy, the red blood cell count gradually increased, and she was discharged. She is doing well, about three years after surgery without any recurrence of pure red cell aplasia or myasthenia gravis.
