W K Ho1, J D Wilson. 1. Department of Endocrinology, Woden Valley Hospital, ACT.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To report a rare syndrome associated with a thymoma and its first successful treatment with gammaglobulin. CLINICAL FEATURES: A 49-year-old white male presented with marked hypothermia, hyperhidrosis, myokymia and increased urinary excretion of catecholamines four weeks after complete excision of a malignant thymoma. He became increasingly drowsy, obtunded and required ventilatory support. INTERVENTION AND OUTCOME: A catecholamine secreting tumour was excluded and he was treated with intravenous gammaglobulin for five days, with dramatic improvement in his condition. Six months later he remains in remission. CONCLUSION: The response to treatment in this patient suggests an immunological pathogenesis for this rare group of symptoms associated with a thymoma.
OBJECTIVE: To report a rare syndrome associated with a thymoma and its first successful treatment with gammaglobulin. CLINICAL FEATURES: A 49-year-old white male presented with marked hypothermia, hyperhidrosis, myokymia and increased urinary excretion of catecholamines four weeks after complete excision of a malignant thymoma. He became increasingly drowsy, obtunded and required ventilatory support. INTERVENTION AND OUTCOME: A catecholamine secreting tumour was excluded and he was treated with intravenous gammaglobulin for five days, with dramatic improvement in his condition. Six months later he remains in remission. CONCLUSION: The response to treatment in this patient suggests an immunological pathogenesis for this rare group of symptoms associated with a thymoma.
Authors: Fredrik A F Markussen; Vebjørn J Melum; Béatrice Bothorel; David G Hazlerigg; Valérie Simonneaux; Shona H Wood Journal: BMC Vet Res Date: 2021-01-07 Impact factor: 2.741