ABSTRACT
We present a rare case of thymoma in a 36-year old woman, who was initially diagnosed with severe myasthenia gravis and subsequently undergone surgical resection. During surgery tumor was found at the anterior mediastinum, tightly attached to the phrenic nerve, pleura and pericardium. Histological assessment showed large areas of sclerosis and fibrous collagenous tissue as well as islands of epithelial and lymphoid cells. Sclerosing thymoma, which is a rare subtype of thymoma (< 1%), was diagnosed, thus confirming the first report in Brazil. The patient showed partial improvement of symptoms associated with myasthenia gravis.
Relatamos um caso raro de timoma em uma mulher de 36 anos de idade, com clínica e diagnóstico de miastenia gravis de difícil controle clínico, submetida à ressecção cirúrgica. No intraoperatório, observou-se tumor no mediastino anterior, firmemente aderido ao nervo frênico, à pleura e ao pericárdio. Ao exame histológico, foram evidenciadas extensas áreas de tecido fibrocolagenoso e esclerose, assim como ilhas de células epiteliais e células linfoides. Diagnosticado timoma esclerosante, subtipo raro de timoma (< 1%), sendo este o primeiro caso relatado no Brasil. A paciente apresentou melhora parcial dos sintomas associados à miastenia gravis.