MYASTHENIA-GRAVIS ASSOCIATED WITH THYMALIPOMA - A CASE-REPORT

A 31-year-old patient with a 2-year history of myasthenia gravis under went resection of a mass in the anterior mediastinum. On histological examination, the tumour proved to be a thymolipoma. The association of thymolipoma with myasthenia gravis is rare. To our knowledge this is the 12th case reported. It is however the first in which histological examination revealed the presence of germinal centres. The tumour meas ured 28 x 14 x 2 cm and weighted 340 gr. This is by far the largest th ymolipoma associated with myasthenia gravis reported. As in all previo usly published cases, the myasthenia associated symptoms improved sign ificantly after surgery. In this case improvement occurred within week s. In general, benefit after thymectomy is delayed until months to yea rs.