CHRONIC DIARRHEA ASSOCIATED WITH THYMOMA AND HYPOGAMMAGLOBULINEMIA (GOODS-SYNDROME)

We report the case of a patient with severe diarrhea and malabsorption who was subsequently found to have hypogammaglobulinemia and thymoma (Good's syndrome). The mechanism by which hypogammaglobulinemia and/or thymoma causes diarrhea is unclear. It may be related to malabsorptio n caused by a mucosal lesion resembling villous atrophy, which may res olve with restoration of immunologic status. Diarrhea in some patients : may respond to commercial gamma globulin injections, fresh frozen pl asma, or cholestyramine therapy. The etiologic relationship between th ymoma and acquired hypogammaglobulinemia remains unclear. Thymectomy i s generally ineffective in improving immunologic deficiencies and coex isting conditions in patients with acquired hypogammaglobulinemia. In our patient's case, severe diarrhea resolved after resection of the th ymoma.