Thymectomy for Morvan Syndrome Associated With Thymoma

Abstract

A 67-year-old man presented with lower back pain, numbness in the lower limbs, and general malaise. Over time, he experienced insomnia, abnormal behavior, muscle weakness, weight loss, orthostatic hypotension, and vesicorectal dysfunction. He was given a diagnosis of Morvan syndrome. Chest computed tomography revealed a 4.5-cm mass in the anterior mediastinum. He underwent steroid pulse therapy and therapeutic plasmapheresis, followed by robotic subxiphoid-optical extended thymectomy. His neurologic symptoms improved, and he was discharged 3 months after surgery. This case highlights the potential benefits of combining surgery with immunosuppressive therapy for managing Morvan syndrome and improving neurologic symptoms associated with thymoma.