DEVELOPMENT OF SYSTEMIC LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS AFTER CHEMOTHERAPY AND RADIOTHERAPY FOR MALIGNANT THYMOMA

Autoimmune conditions such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are s ometimes associated with thymoma. Recently we drew attention to the de velopment of SLE some months or even years following surgical thymecto my or thymomectomy. We now describe the first patient who developed SL E after chemotherapy and radiotherapy alone for malignant thymoma. A 3 8-yr-old female presented with an anterior mediastinal mass, which was found to be a malignant thymoma. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy were p erformed with complete resolution of the tumour. She remained stable f or 4 yr, but then developed polyarthritis, lymphopenia, high titre ant i-dsDNA antibody and antinuclear antibody. The diagnosis of SLE was es tablished 44 months after malignant thymoma was treated. We believe th at cases such as this highlight the relationship between the thymus an d the development of SLE.