What is a Thymoma?

2. The Myasthenia Gravis Connection

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease characterized by weakness and fatigue of voluntary muscles. It occurs when antibodies destroy or block the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which causes muscles to contract and activates pain responses and a muscle-specific protein receptor called tyrosine kinase. It turns out half of the people with thymomas have MG, while 15% of people who have MG develop thymomas. Those with thymoma-associated MG develop inflammation in the heart muscles that increases the likelihood of cardiac-related death.