ECR 2019 / C-2548
The essential of the thymus in CT evaluation: normal and pathological findings
Type:
Educational Exhibit
Keywords:
Cancer, Diagnostic procedure, CT, Thorax, Mediastinum
Authors:
A. Selea1, E. R. Apostol2, M. Buzoianu1, I. G. Lupescu1; 1Bucharest/RO, 2BUCURESTI/RO
DOI:
10.26044/ecr2019/C-2548
Conclusion
- In the context of continuously changing thymic morphology,
it is important to be familiar with its normal CT aspects.
Its shape is quadrilateral/ triangular with convex lateral borders before puberty and triangular with straight or concave lateral borders after puberty.
The size and density of the gland decrease with age.
- The main differential diagnosis of masses involving the anterior mediastinum may be summarized by the mnemonic “4T”: thymoma,
teratoma,
thyroid tumors/ goiter and terrible lymphoma.
- Whilst some of the anterior mediastinal masses may be diagnosed with certainty on CT alone,
most of them require correlation with clinical and laboratory data,
patient history and histopathological confirmation.
Even so,
CT imaging plays a key role in establishing a presumptive diagnosis,
further testing indications and patient management.