True thymic hyperplasia causing pure red cell aplasia: a case report

Adam Mohammad; Alan G Dawson; Amrita Bajaj; Sridhar Rathinam

doi:10.1093/icvts/ivab301

True thymic hyperplasia causing pure red cell aplasia: a case report

Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg. 2022 Mar 31;34(4):697-699. doi: 10.1093/icvts/ivab301.

Authors

Adam Mohammad¹, Alan G Dawson¹, Amrita Bajaj², Sridhar Rathinam¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Thoracic Surgery, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester, UK.
² Department of Radiology, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester, UK.

Abstract

Pure red cell aplasia caused by true thymic hyperplasia is extremely rare. We report the case of a 25-year-old female diagnosed with pure red cell aplasia. Following a thymectomy confirming true thymic hyperplasia and corticosteroid therapy, complete response was achieved. Patients diagnosed with pure red cell aplasia should be investigated with a computerized tomographic scan to assess for thymic pathology and if present, this should be resected. Follow-up is essential to monitor for recurrence.

Keywords: Pure red cell aplasia; Thymectomy; True thymic hyperplasia.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Adult
Female
Humans
Red-Cell Aplasia, Pure* / diagnosis
Red-Cell Aplasia, Pure* / etiology
Thymectomy / adverse effects
Thymoma* / complications
Thymoma* / diagnostic imaging
Thymoma* / surgery
Thymus Hyperplasia* / complications
Thymus Hyperplasia* / diagnostic imaging
Thymus Neoplasms* / complications
Thymus Neoplasms* / diagnostic imaging
Thymus Neoplasms* / surgery