Thymoma Complicated by Acquired Amegakaryocytic Thrombocytopenia and Pure Red Cell Aplasia

Although the association of pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) and aplastic anemia with thymoma is well-known, acquired amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia (AAMT) is not a recognized paraneoplastic manifestation of thymoma. This report discusses a patient with recurrent thymoma complicated by myasthenia gravis, PRCA, and AAMT. Both PRCA and AAMT are diagnosed after a thymoma recurrence, 11 years after complete resection of the initial tumor and nine months after chemotherapy for the relapsed disease. Both PRCA and AAMT responded to immunosuppression with cyclosporine, corticosteroid, and an abbreviated course of antithymocyte globulin, achieving a very good erythroid response and a complete remission for AAMT, suggesting that AAMT, although extremely rare, can be an immune-mediated paraneoplastic manifestation of thymoma.

Target Audience

This activity has been designated to meet the educational needs of physicians and nurses involved in the management of patients with cancer.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

  • Describe the association of thymomas with autoimmune disease
  • Describe novel treatment for patients with thymoma and autoimmune hematologic phenomenon
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Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 1.00 Participation
  • 1.00 Nurse
  • 1.00 Physician
Course opens: 
11/04/2014
Course expires: 
11/04/2015
Cost:
$0.00

Carl M. Gay, MD, PhD
Department of Medicine
University of Texas Health Science Center
Houston, Texas

William N. William Jr, MD
Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, Texas

Sa A. Wang, MD
Department of Hematopathology
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, Texas

Thein Hlaing Oo, MD
Section of Thrombosis & Benign Hematology
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, Texas

Available Credit

  • 1.00 Participation
  • 1.00 Nurse
  • 1.00 Physician

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