Case of thymoma-associated cutaneous graft-versus-host disease-like disease successfully improved by narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy.

Abstract

Thymoma-associated graft-versus-host disease (GVHD)-like disease is a rare paraneoplastic disease seen in patients with thymoma. Here, we describe the first case of thymoma-associated GVHD-like disease localized to the skin that was successfully improved by a combination of systemic corticosteroids and whole-body narrowband ultraviolet (UV)-B phototherapy. The patient had developed toxic epidermal necrolysis-like erosive skin lesions over the whole body. Although systemic corticosteroids were effective up to a point, we were unable to begin the steroid taper. The addition of systemic narrowband UV-B phototherapy improved the skin manifestation of this disease, allowing corticosteroids to be reduced to a third of the original dose. Histopathologically, it was confirmed that the proportion of Foxp3-positive lymphocytes in the skin increased after narrowband UV-B irradiation. We propose that whole-body narrowband UV-B phototherapy is a good therapeutic option for the skin manifestation of thymoma-associated GVHD-like disease.

• Authors: Kazuki Yatsuzuka, Mikiko Tohyama, Fumiko Oda, Takashi Hashimoto, Koji Sayama
• Journal: The Journal of dermatology (J Dermatol) Vol. 45 Issue 4 Pg. 479-482 (Apr 2018) ISSN: 1346-8138 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 29215146 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2017 Japanese Dermatological Association.

Topics

• Biopsy
• Female
• Graft vs Host Disease (etiology, pathology, radiotherapy)
• Humans
• Middle Aged
• Skin (pathology, radiation effects)
• Skin Diseases (etiology, radiotherapy)
• Thymoma (complications)
• Thymus Neoplasms (complications)
• Treatment Outcome
• Ultraviolet Therapy (methods)
• Whole-Body Irradiation (methods)