Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: The association between Graves’ disease and thymic hyperplasia was first described in 1912. Hundreds of cases have since been described. This rare association doesn’t seem fortuitous. We report a case.

Observation: A 30-year-old patient with no particular personal history who consults following the onset of dyspnea with chest tightness. A CT scan of the chest revealed thymic hyperplasia. The preoperative assessment found an hyperthyroidism hence its orientation in endocrinology. A synthetic antithyroid drug treatment is started, and a CT reassessment after euthyroidism is proposed instead of surgery. A decrease in thymic hyperplasia is indeed observed after 3 months.

Discussion: Thymic hyperplasias are rare, except in adolescence. The persistence of a thymic remnant in adulthood raises fears of thymoma. The association of Graves’ disease and thymic hyperplasia is to be known, it concerns 38% of patients, its evolution is benign and favorable under medical treatment with antithyroid drugs. What makes it possible to avoid unnecessary surgery, offers simple radiological monitoring.