Intestinal pseudo-obstruction as initial presentation of thymoma.

Abstract

A 45-year-old-man presented with severe vomiting, constipation, abdominal distention and bilateral ocular abductor palsy. Evaluation revealed diffuse autonomic dysfunction characterized by intestinal pseudo-obstruction, xerophthalmia, xerostomia, postural hypotension, erectile dysfunction and loss of sinus arrhythmia. Paraneoplastic work-up revealed thymoma. Most symptoms resolved after surgical removal of the thymoma. Six weeks later he developed worsening of external ophthalmoparesis with ptosis, responding to acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, confirming myasthenia gravis.

• Authors: C P Musthafa, Ahsan Moosa, P A Chandrashekharan, R Nandakumar, A V Narayanan, V Balakrishnan
• Journal: Indian journal of gastroenterology : official journal of the Indian Society of Gastroenterology (Indian J Gastroenterol) 2006 Sep-Oct Vol. 25 Issue 5 Pg. 264-5 ISSN: 0254-8860 [Print] India
• PMID: 17090854 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Cholinesterase Inhibitors
• Pyridostigmine Bromide

Topics

• Cholinesterase Inhibitors (therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction (diagnosis, etiology, therapy)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Myasthenia Gravis (complications, diagnosis, drug therapy)
• Pyridostigmine Bromide (therapeutic use)
• Thymectomy
• Thymoma (complications, diagnosis, surgery)
• Thymus Neoplasms (complications, diagnosis, surgery)
• Treatment Outcome