Pure red cell aplasia following thymothymectomy: a case report

Thymoma, a rare epithelial neoplasm, is the most common anterior-superior mediastinal tumour. Thymoma can occur sporadically or in association with other conditions, such as myasthenia gravis, pure red cell aplasia (PRCA), and hypogammaglobulinemia. Only 5% of thymoma cases develop PRCA; however, 10-50% of patients presenting with PRCA have an associated spindle cell type thymoma. Thymoma complicated by PRCA is associated with a poor outcome. We report the case of a 38-year-old female who presented with chest pain, and was diagnosed with an anterior mediastinal mass. A thymectomy was performed, and histopathological examination revealed mixed thymoma; two months later, the patient developed PRCA. The present case reinforces the need for clinicians to be vigilant with thymoma patients, even following thymectomy.