Malignant thymoma associated with progressive systemic sclerosis

A 65-year-old man manifested certain features of scleroderma several years before discovery of malignant thymoma. Following tumor resection, the signs and symptoms of scleroderma did not improve, and the patient experienced the abrupt onset of renal failure with malignant hypertension 7 months after the operation. The scleroderma renal crisis caused terminal renal failure, which was treated by chronic hemodialysis. This is the second reported case of thymoma associated with progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS). The authors suggest that thymoma and various immunologic disorders have a common etiologic factor which has not yet been found. This case emphasizes that thymectomy frequently has little effect on the course of the immunologic disease. The implications of the association of thymoma and PSS are discussed.