Rebound Thymic Hyperplasia After Pneumonectomy and Chemotherapy for Primary Synovial Sarcoma

Abstract

Thymic hyperplasia occurs in a small proportion of patients receiving chemotherapy for various malignancies. It likely results from an immunologic rebound phenomenon. Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography is an important tool for staging malignant neoplasms. We report a case of rebound thymic hyperplasia manifesting as a hypermetabolic mass on fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography after pneumonectomy and chemotherapy for primary pulmonary synovial sarcoma. We highlight the importance of recognizing the phenomenon of rebound thymic hyperplasia, as it can mimic residual or recurrent malignancy, especially in the setting of altered chest anatomy.

Rebound thymic hyperplasia after liver transplantation for a child with biliary atresia; a case report

“…Thymic hyperplasia occurs in two forms, thymic lymphoid hyperplasia and true thymic hyperplasia. Thymic lymphoid hyperplasia is characterized by an abundance of lymphoid follicles with active germinal centers and does not necessarily result in thymic enlargement . True thymic hyperplasia consists of enlargement of the thymus gland but maintains its normal architecture.…”

Rebound thymic hyperplasia following high dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplant in three neuroblastoma patients

“…It retains the potential for regrowth in response to stressors. While this has been documented in multiple cancers, it has only been reported once in neuroblastoma …”

“…It retains the potential for regrowth in response to stressors. While this has been documented in multiple cancers, [2][3][4][5] it has only been reported once in neuroblastoma. 6 We have cared for three patients with high-risk neuroblastoma who developed rebound thymic hyperplasia.…”