[Progressive systemic sclerosis, B-cell malignant lymphoma of the ileum and thyroid adenocarcinoma]

A patient with progressive systemic sclerosis with rapid evolution to death is presented. The post-morten examination revealed besides the typical changes of the progressive systemic sclerosis in the skin, kidneys, heart and blood vessels a B-cell ileal malignant lymphoma with generalized metastases, and an adenocarcinoma of the thyroid gland. A possible mechanism involved in the association of these diseases might be the action of the oncogenes modifying the cellular hormostasis and the immunological tolerance.