5. Diseases of the Thymus

Question 1

Diseases of the Thymus

Answer 1

1. Congenital anomalies
2. Non-neoplastic conditions
3. Thymoma

Question 2

An example of congenital anomalies

Answer 2

Thymic Hypoplasia
- Seen in DiGeorge syndrome
- Results in severe defects in cell-mediated immunity
- Associated with variable abnormalities in parathyroid
gland development

Question 3

Non-neoplastic conditions of the Thymus

Answer 3

1. Thymic Hyperplasia
2. Myasthenia Gravis
   - Autoantibodies acting as competitive antagonists produced against acetylcholine receptors in neuromuscular junctions
   - Associated with Thymomas

Question 4

Types of Thymoma

Answer 4

1. Benign thymoma
   - Cytologically benign
   - Clinically benign
2. Malignant thymoma type I
   - Cytologically benign
   - Clinically malignant
3. Malignant thymoma type II
   - Cytologically malignant
   - Clinically malignant