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Title: Computed tomography of the anterior mediastinum in myasthemia gravis: a radiologic-pathologic correlative study

Abstract

Chest radiographs and computed tomographic (CT) scans of the mediastinum were correlated with pathologic findings of the thymus following thymectomy in 57 patients with myasthenia gravis. Based on the patient's age and the overall morphology of the anterior mediastinum, CT scans were assigned one of four grades in an attempt to predict thymus pathologic findings. Using this grading, 14 of 16 cases of thymoma were suspected or definitely diagnosed. One of the two cases not diagnosed on CT was a microscopic tumor. There were no false-positive diagnoses in 11 cases graded as definitely thymoma. We conclude that thymoma can be sensitively diagnosed in patients older than 40 years of age. However, thymoma cannot be predicted with a high level of confidence in patients younger than 40 because of the difficulty in differentiating normal thymus or hyperplasia from thymoma. Recommendations for the use of CT in the preoperative evaluation of myasthenic patients are presented.

Authors:
; ; ; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
UCLA Center for the Health Sciences, Los Angeles, CA
OSTI Identifier:
5799757
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Radiology; (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 142:1
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE; BIOMEDICAL RADIOGRAPHY; COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS; COMPUTERIZED TOMOGRAPHY; MEDIASTINUM; MEDIASTINU; NEOPLASMS; DIAGNOSIS; AGE DEPENDENCE; PATIENTS; RECOMMENDATIONS; SURGERY; BODY; BODY AREAS; CHEST; DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES; DISEASES; MEDICINE; NUCLEAR MEDICINE; RADIOLOGY; TOMOGRAPHY; 550602* - Medicine- External Radiation in Diagnostics- (1980-)

Citation Formats

Fon, G T, Bein, M E, Mancuso, A A, Keesey, J C, Lupetin, A R, and Wong, W S. Computed tomography of the anterior mediastinum in myasthemia gravis: a radiologic-pathologic correlative study. United States: N. p., 1982. Web.
Fon, G T, Bein, M E, Mancuso, A A, Keesey, J C, Lupetin, A R, & Wong, W S. Computed tomography of the anterior mediastinum in myasthemia gravis: a radiologic-pathologic correlative study. United States.
Fon, G T, Bein, M E, Mancuso, A A, Keesey, J C, Lupetin, A R, and Wong, W S. 1982. "Computed tomography of the anterior mediastinum in myasthemia gravis: a radiologic-pathologic correlative study". United States.
@article{osti_5799757,
title = {Computed tomography of the anterior mediastinum in myasthemia gravis: a radiologic-pathologic correlative study},
author = {Fon, G T and Bein, M E and Mancuso, A A and Keesey, J C and Lupetin, A R and Wong, W S},
abstractNote = {Chest radiographs and computed tomographic (CT) scans of the mediastinum were correlated with pathologic findings of the thymus following thymectomy in 57 patients with myasthenia gravis. Based on the patient's age and the overall morphology of the anterior mediastinum, CT scans were assigned one of four grades in an attempt to predict thymus pathologic findings. Using this grading, 14 of 16 cases of thymoma were suspected or definitely diagnosed. One of the two cases not diagnosed on CT was a microscopic tumor. There were no false-positive diagnoses in 11 cases graded as definitely thymoma. We conclude that thymoma can be sensitively diagnosed in patients older than 40 years of age. However, thymoma cannot be predicted with a high level of confidence in patients younger than 40 because of the difficulty in differentiating normal thymus or hyperplasia from thymoma. Recommendations for the use of CT in the preoperative evaluation of myasthenic patients are presented.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/5799757}, journal = {Radiology; (United States)},
number = ,
volume = 142:1,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1982},
month = {Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1982}
}