The association of pemphigus with thymoma or malignancy: a critical review.

In order to determine the relationship between all forms of pemphigus and malignancy or thymoma, a search of the world literature was carried out. Fifty-nine case reports or isolated citations for pemphigus with malignancies or thymomas were noted, including twenty-one reports published before the histological separation by Lever of pemphigus and bullous pemphigoid in 1953. Of these cases, twenty- six were acceptable for analysis. In approximately 54% of patients surveyed with these associations, the malignancy involved the lymphoid or reticuloendothelial systems. Approximately 48% of the patients with pemphigus and malignancy or thymoma had associated autoimmune diseases. Pemphigus with malignancies or thymomas may be related through some intervening variables such as immuno-suppressive therapy or the antigenic and cross-reacting nature of the primary tumour, or through an immunological consequence of associated autoimmune disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]