Pleural drop-metastasis five years post-thymectomy manifesting with myasthenia gravis

Abstract

Introduction: Thymomas are the most common tumors in the anterior mediastinum. Intrathoracic recurrence of thymomas after initial resection is common and mostly seen in patients with advanced Masaoka stage. A number of paraneoplastic syndromes can be associated with thymoma, but myasthenia gravis (MG) is the most common. A total radical thymectomy often leads to a resolution of MG in a considerable number of patients. However, MG relapse post-thymectomy can occur whether there is a recurrence of the thymoma or not. In this case report, a patient presented with MG five years after radical removal of a thymoma which was not associated with MG before his surgery.