True thymic hyperplasia versus follicular thymic hyperplasia: a retrospective analysis of 13 cases
M Mlika1, A Ayadi-Kaddour, A Marghli
1Department of Pathology, Abderrahmen Mami Hospital, 2080 Ariana, Tunisia. mlika.zorgati.mona@hotmail.com
Introduction:
Thymic enlargement is a rare phenomenon that can be challenging.
Materials And Methods:
We present a retrospective study over a 13-year period (from 1996 to 2008) of 13 cases of thymic hyperplasia that included 4 cases of true thymic hyperplasia (TTH) and 9 cases of follicular thymic hyperplasia (FTH).
Objectives:
To describe the pathogenesis and different associations of these 2 entities; to emphasize the difficulties in accurate diagnosis without histological examination and to report an unusual association between TTH and cutaneous leishmaniasis.
Results:
There were 9 women and 4 men. All patients with FTH had a past medical history of myasthenia gravis (MG). In the group of TTH, 2 patients received chemotherapy and one patient had been administered amphotericin B for a cutaneous leishmaniasis. Radiologic findings showed a mediastinal mass in 7 cases. Thymectomy was performed in all patients with FTH and in one patient with TTH and suspect malignant disease. We observed no complications in any case.
Conclusion:
The two main types of thymic hyperplasia have different pathogenic characteristics and diverse treatment modalities.
