Type:
Educational Exhibit
Keywords:
Mediastinum, MR, Imaging sequences, Hyperplasia / Hypertrophy
Authors:
F. Conway, S. Datta, H. Boylan, A. Kirk
DOI:
10.26044/ecr2023/C-12461
Background
BACKGROUND:
With the increase in the number of CT examinations, there is a corresponding increase in incidental findings including thymic masses [1]. A significant proportion of these represent benign thymic hyperplasia.
There is growing evidence that chemical shift MRI can confidently demonstrate fat content within thymic lesions, and therefore more likely to be of benign aetilogy. SII compares the signal intensity within the thymus gland on both in-phase and out-of-phase sequences and diagnoses benign thymic hyperplasia with reported 100% sensitivity and specificity [2]. Chemical shift artefact (CSR) compares the signal intensity within the thymus and paraspinal muscles in both in-phase and out-of-phase sequences with reported 100% sensitivity and 97% specificity [2].