Pemphigus vulgaris associated with spindle cell thymoma

This paper describes the occurrence of fatal pemphigus vulgaris in an 89 year old female, in whom a benign spindle cell thymoma was found at autopsy. The histological appearances of the skin biopsies, thymic tumour and immunofluorescence findings are described. The association between pemphigus and neoplasia is discussed, and the difference between classical pemphigus vulgaris and paraneoplastic pemphigus are evaluated.