Alopecia Areata Associated with Thymoma Presenting as a Diffuse Pleural Dissemination Mimicking Mesothelioma: Rare Concomitant Presentation
May 2024
in “
Türkiye klinikleri tıp bilimleri dergisi
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TLDR A rare case showed hair regrowth after chemotherapy for thymoma, suggesting a link between alopecia areata and thymoma.
A 42-year-old man with sudden hair loss, dyspnea, and chest pain was initially suspected of having malignant pleural mesothelioma, but a biopsy revealed metastatic pleural thymoma. Despite not having myasthenia gravis (MG), he was diagnosed with alopecia areata (AA). This rare case of simultaneous AA and thymoma without MG underscores the importance of considering pulmonary diseases in AA patients. Notably, the patient's hair regrew following chemotherapy for thymoma, indicating a possible link between AA and thymoma activity.