Dysphagia: An uncommon manifestation oh thymoma

Authors

  • Pedro Correia Azevedo Serviço de Medicina do Hospital Garcia de Orta
  • Rita Magriço Serviço de Medicina do Hospital Garcia de Orta
  • Henrique Vara Luiz Serviço de Medicina do Hospital Garcia de Orta
  • Tiago Judas Serviço de Medicina do Hospital Garcia de Orta
  • Frederico Sanches Serviço de Medicina do Hospital Garcia de Orta
  • João Namora Serviço de Medicina do Hospital Garcia de Orta

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24950/rspmi.981

Keywords:

dysphagia, Myasthenia gravis, thymoma

Abstract

Myasthenia gravis is an immunological disease of neuromuscular
transmission. It seldom presents bulbar symptoms. In about 15%
of cases it is associated with thymoma. In such cases is regarded
as a paraneoplastic syndrome.
The authors present the case of a 51 years-old man, admitted
because of progressive dysphagia of recent onset. He was previously asymptomatic. Physical examination and laboratory tests
were normal. A slight enlargement of the mediastinum was noted
on chest radiography. Thoracic CT-scan revealed a tumor of the
anterior mediastinum. Upper gastroesophageal endoscopy and
echoendoscopy were normal. A disorder of esophageal motility
was then suspected. The electromyography revealed signs of
Myasthenia gravis. Treatment with pyridostigmine was started
and dysphagia disappeared. Biopsy of mediastinal tumor under
thoracoscopy confirmed a thymoma. The patient was treated
with neo-adjuvant chemotherapy and later tumoral excision was
performed. Since then a marked improvement was noted.

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References

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Additional Files

Published

2014-03-31

How to Cite

1.
Correia Azevedo P, Magriço R, Vara Luiz H, Judas T, Sanches F, Namora J. Dysphagia: An uncommon manifestation oh thymoma. RPMI [Internet]. 2014 Mar. 31 [cited 2024 Nov. 23];21(1):26-30. Available from: https://revista.spmi.pt/index.php/rpmi/article/view/981

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Section

Case Reports

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