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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Constant Coughing And Breathlessness?

Hi. I am 21 years old 5 ft 11 and weigh 13st 10lbs. Until I was 20 years old there was no issue one November I got a chest infection after chest infection and has continued ever since. Until this day 1year 5 months later. I have been diagnosed with asthma but despite several treatments still not much better I have been hospitalized twice in the last year. I had a ct scan in December 13 to which I have been told there is a 2cm tumor where the thymus glad should be and should have gone years ago. I go for a repeat ct scan in a few weeks if the mass has grown they will remove it they said they were unable to perform a biopsy because of location. I have since become dizzy and always tired constant coughing and breathlessness I have had blood tests which confirm anti body levels for infection fighting are low. I find it strange there is no asthma in the family and until 20 never been diagnosed with asthma. Could this all be down to a growing thymic tumor?
posted on Fri, 25 Apr 2014
Twitter Tue, 3 Feb 2015 Answered on
Twitter Tue, 3 Feb 2015 Last reviewed on
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Pulmonologist,  's  Response
Thanks for your question on HCM.
I can understand your situation and problem.
Yes, you are right. It can be due to thymic tumour.
Thymic tumour cause immunosuppression in the body due to poor production of antibodies.
So these patients are at increased risk of infection.
And recurrent lung infection cause bronchitis. So your asthma like symptoms are due to bronchitis.
And thymic tumours are very difficult to biopsied.
In my opinion you should consult oncologist and get done PET scan and blood markers for thymic tumour.
If hot spot is seen on PET scan with positive blood markers than possibility of thymic tumour is high.
So consult oncologist and discuss all these and start appropriate treatment.
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What Causes Constant Coughing And Breathlessness?

Thanks for your question on HCM. I can understand your situation and problem. Yes, you are right. It can be due to thymic tumour. Thymic tumour cause immunosuppression in the body due to poor production of antibodies. So these patients are at increased risk of infection. And recurrent lung infection cause bronchitis. So your asthma like symptoms are due to bronchitis. And thymic tumours are very difficult to biopsied. In my opinion you should consult oncologist and get done PET scan and blood markers for thymic tumour. If hot spot is seen on PET scan with positive blood markers than possibility of thymic tumour is high. So consult oncologist and discuss all these and start appropriate treatment.