Thymoma with pemphigus foliaceus

A 75-gear-old Japanese woman was referred to us because of an anterior medi astinal mass. Crusts and shallow erosions developed 10 months earlier on he r upper chest, back, and scalp, Pemphigus foliaceus was diagnosed based on histological examination of skin biopsy specimens and positivity for serum anti-desmoglein 1 antibody by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Neurologic al examination and electromyography ruled out myasthenia gravis. Total thym ectomy was performed, and the postoperative pathology studies showed mixed lymphoepithelial thymoma. One year after the resection, the eruption and al opecia improved and the serum anti-desmoglein 1 antibody titer decreased, s uggesting a beneficial effect of thymectomy on thymoma-related pemphigus.