HYPERPLASIA OF THE THYMUS FOLLOWING CHEMO THERAPY

Hyperplasia of the thymus, an uncommon development following chemother apy, raises doubt concerning possible tumor recurrence. We report a ca se of thymic hyperplasia in a 12-year-old girl who was given chemother apy for a cervicomediastinal lymphoma, Three months after treatment en d, dry cough and an enlargered mediastinum suggested recurrence, but h istological examination of tissue biopsy demonstrated benign reactive hyperplasia. Outcome was favorable without recurrence after corticoste roid therapy, According to the literature, thymic hyperplasia is neith er tumor nor treatment specific. It generally occurs in children but m ay be observed in young adults, Hyperplasia of the thymus following ch emotherapy would appear to be a good prognosis factor.