Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis, myositis, and thymoma. A new triad.

Abstract

Another patient, to our knowledge the third reported in the literature, had a triad composed of intractable, chronic, mucocutaneous candidiasis, myositis, and thymoma. This is the second instance in which a thymoma was found and removed surgically following development of the two clinically more evident members of the triad. Myositis was the first manifestation, preceding the onset of candidiasis by 11 years. Results of a muscle biopsy revealed interstitial lymphorrhagia in a perivascular location. Light and electron microscopic study of the tumor demonstrated numerous small and large lymphocytes, as well as some larger epitheliallike cells resembling closely the earliest differentiating stages of thymic myoid cells. The fungal infection showed minimal spontaneous improvement during the first year after surgery.