Thymectomy for treatment of anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis

Abstract

In this case report, we present a 25-year-old woman who was diagnosed with anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor encephalitis and subsequently was found to have thymic hyperplasia. She underwent robotic bilateral access thymectomy for treatment of her anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis and has remained asymptomatic after her operation without any medication. This is only the second reported case of thymectomy for treatment of this condition. This case may further suggest thymic tissue is involved in the development of anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis and that thymectomy is an appropriate treatment for a subset of patients with this disease.