1. Double suprarenalectomy in growing rats is an additional stimulus for thymic growth and brings about marked prepubertal hyperplasia of this gland. 2. Our results on young rats suggest that the suprarenal cortex may be a factor in the excessive thymic hyperplasias seen in infants and children.

We report a new case of a mediastinal mass in a 19-year-old patient corresponding microscopically to an association of unilocular thymic cyst and true thymic hyperplasia. Our aim is to highlight the absence of specificity of clinical and radiological findings and the necessity of a thorough sampling of the tumor in order to establish the diagnosis.

BACKGROUND Acquired thymic disease (malignant thymoma or thymic hyperplasia) is associated with various autoimmune diseases, such as myasthenia gravis (MG), pure red-cell aplasia (PRCA), pemphigus vulgaris or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Renal disease has rarely been observed in association with thymoma. METHODS This retrospective, multicentric study collected data on patients with thy...

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease associated with thymic hyperplasia and is much more prevalent in women than men. In this study we investigated potential changes in estrogen receptor (ER) expression in thymic hyperplasia. We first quantified by real-time PCR the relative expression of ER alpha and ER beta in normal thymus and found that the ER beta to ER alpha ratio was inverted ...

To cite: Shanmugasundaram M, Varadhan L, Katreddy MVR, et al. BMJ Case Rep Published online: [please include Day Month Year] doi:10.1136/bcr-2016215285 DESCRIPTION A 40-year-old man was referred to the maxillofacial team for dysphagia, change in voice and weight loss. As part of investigation, MRI and CT scan of the neck were performed, which showed mild diffuse thyroid enlargement with no obvi...

Autoimmune myasthenia gravis (MG) is characterized by muscle weakness caused by antibodies directed against proteins of the neuromuscular junction. The main antigenic target is the acetylcholine receptor (AChR), but the muscle Specific Kinase (MuSK) and the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP4) are also targets. This review summarizes the clinical and biological data available...

Autoimmune myasthenia gravis (MG) is a muscular disease mediated by autoantibodies, mainly directed against the acetylcholine receptor (AChR). The pathogenic antibodies are especially produced in the thymus, which is often characterized by a hyperplasia with germinal centers. Recent studies demonstrated the overexpression of chemokines and the abnormal development of high endothelial venules (H...

PURPOSE To correlate computed tomographic (CT) appearance of the thymus with results from histologic examination of thymic tissue and clinical outcome in patients with generalized myasthenia gravis who underwent thymectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS Forty-five patients with myasthenia gravis underwent CT of the thorax and thymectomy. Findings at clinical follow-up were available in all patients. ...