We have studied the long-term X-ray light curve ( 2 - 10 keV ) of the luminous Seyfert 1 galaxy MCG-2-58-22 by compiling data , from various X-ray satellites , which together cover more than 20 years .
We have found two distinct types of time variations in the light curve .
One is a gradual and secular decrease of the X-ray flux , and the other is the episodic increase of X-ray flux ( or flare ) by a factor of 2 - 4 compared with the level expected from the secular variation .
We detected 3 such flares in total ; a representative duration for the flares is \sim 2 years , with intervening quiescent intervals lasting \sim 6 - 8 years .
We discuss a few possible origins for these variabilities .
Though a standard disk instability theory may explain the displayed time variability in the X-ray light curve , the subsequent accretions of stellar debris , from a tidal disruption event caused by a supermassive black hole in MCG-2-58-22 , can not be ruled out as an alternative explanation .