Therapy And Diagnosis Of Thymomaassociated With PRCA: 4 Sasesreport Report

Objective: to understand the pathogenesis , clinical features, methodes of diagnosis of thymoma associated with pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) and to evaluate the outcome of the therapy. Methods: The clinical data of 4 cases of thymoma associated with PRCA from 1993 to 2002 and English , Chinese literature of recentyears were reviewed. Result: all of the 4 cases underwent extended thymusectomy and there was no postoperative death.The early results of extended thymusectomy was excellent. The standard of effective therapy: no recurrence of PRCA was observed in 2 years after operation.Conclusion: thymoma associated with PRCA is an autoimmune disease (AID).Bone marrow examination, radiological including CT scan examination is necessary to establish the diagnosis and extended thymusectomy after preparation with repeated blood transfusion remains the mainstay of treatment. Prolonged corticosteroid therapy leads to remission for upto 2 years after operative intervention.Suspected that it isconnected with the CD34 antigen expression on the membrane of T-cell, for CD34 antigen support the function of growth factor receptor, somatostatin analogue-based therapy ( octreotide ) may be an effective therapy in unresponsive thymomas.