Chemotherapy improves thymoma-associated graft-versus-host-disease-like erythroderma

BMJ Case Rep. 2011 May 10:2011:bcr0320113936. doi: 10.1136/bcr.03.2011.3936.

Abstract

Graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD) with erythroderma can rarely occur in the context of thymoma and is associated with a poor prognosis due to an increased risk of infection-related death. The present study describes a case of a 50-year-old man with malignant thymoma who developed sepsis in addition to skin manifestations similar to that seen in GVHD. This patient experienced marked improvement in skin lesions in response to steroids and combination chemotherapy with carboplatin and paclitaxel, with subsequent resolution of infection. The present study describes the clinical course of this patient, followed by a review of pertinent reports of thymoma associated with GVHD with particular focus on the efficacy of treatment strategies.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Cisplatin / administration & dosage
  • Cisplatin / therapeutic use
  • Dermatitis, Exfoliative / diagnosis
  • Dermatitis, Exfoliative / drug therapy
  • Dermatitis, Exfoliative / etiology*
  • Dermatitis, Exfoliative / pathology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Graft vs Host Disease / diagnosis*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Methylprednisolone / therapeutic use*
  • Middle Aged
  • Paclitaxel / administration & dosage
  • Paclitaxel / therapeutic use
  • Skin / pathology
  • Thymoma / complications*
  • Thymoma / pathology
  • Thymus Neoplasms / complications*
  • Thymus Neoplasms / pathology

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Paclitaxel
  • Cisplatin
  • Methylprednisolone