Age-related changes in the thymus gland: CT-pathologic correlation

Journal Article · Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1983 · AJR, Am. J. Roentgenol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2214/ajr.141.2.241· OSTI ID:5662815

Moore, A V; Korobkin, M; Olanow, W; Heaston, D K; Ram, P C; Dunnick, N R; Silverman, P M

Recent reports suggest that computed tomography (CT) is useful for thymoma detection in patients with myasthenia gravis. However, that usefulness may be conditioned by the state of the normal thymus. To examine this concept, the CT findings in 64 consecutive patients with histologic confirmation of thymic status after thymectomy or thymic biopsy during mediastinal exploration were reviewed. The normal thymus has a bilobed, arrowhead-shaped cross section at all ages, with gradual focal or diffuse fatty infiltration of the parenchyma usually occurring between 20 and 40 years of age. A thymoma is usually a spherical or oval mass, often producing a focal, distinct bulge in the adjacent pleural reflection. The differentiation of thymoma from normal thymus should be possible in most patients if age-related changes in the normal gland are appreciated.

• Research Organization: Duke Univ. Medical Center, Durham, NC
• OSTI ID: 5662815
• Journal Information: AJR, Am. J. Roentgenol.; (United States), Journal Name: AJR, Am. J. Roentgenol.; (United States) Vol. 141:2; ISSN AAJRD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
AGE DEPENDENCE
ANATOMY
BODY
COMPUTERIZED TOMOGRAPHY
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
DISEASES
LYMPHATIC SYSTEM
MEDICINE
MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES
NEOPLASMS
ORGANS
PATIENTS
SURGERY
THYMECTOMY
THYMUS
TOMOGRAPHY