Abstract
In a retrospective study, 108 thoracic CT-scans of 18 patients aged 5–25 who had received cytotoxic treatment for solid tumors were evaluated. The thymic size decreased in 15/17 patients during treatment and increased in 14/15 after the end of therapy. In 5/5 patients, the change could also be detected with relapse therapy. These changes have to be considered in the evaluation of a mediastinal mass suspected of metastasis during and following cytotoxic therapy.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Baron RL, Lee JKT, Sagel SS, Peterson RR (1982) Computed tomography of the normal thymus. Radiology 142: 121
Baron RL, Lee JKT, Sagel SS, Levitt RG (1982) Computed tomography of the abnormal thymus. Radiology 142: 127
Francis IR, Glazer GM, Bookstein FL, Gross BH (1985) The thymus: re-examination of age-related changes in size and shape. AJR 145: 249
Heiberg E, Wolverson MK, Sunderam M, Nouri S (1982) Normal thymus: CT. AJR 138: 491
Moore AV, Korobkin M, Olanow W, Heaston DK, Ram PC, Dunnick NR, Silverman PM (1983) Age-related changes in the thymus gland: CT-pathological correlation. AJR 141: 241
Salonen OLM, Kivisaari ML, Somer JK (1984) Computed tomography of the thymus of children under 10 years. Pediatr Radiol 14: 373
Siegel MJ, Sagel SS, Reed K (1982) The value of computed tomography in the diagnosis and management of pediatric mediastinal abnormalities. Radiology 142: 149
Caffey J, Silbey R (1960) Regrowth and overgrowth of the thymus after atrophy induced by the oral administration of adrenocorticosteroids to human infants. Pediatrics 26: 762
Carmosino L, DiBenedetto A, Feffer S (1985) Thymic hyperplasia following successful chemotherapy. Cancer 56: 1526
Cohen M, Hill CA, Cangir A, Sullivan MP (1980) Thymic rebound after treatment of childhood tumors. AJR 135: 151
Hill CA, Dodd GD (1970) Thymic hyperplasia simulating mediastinal metastasis. Tex Med J 66: 78
Shin M, Ho K (1983) Diffuse thymic hyperplasia following chemotherapy for nodular sclerosing Hodgkin's disease. Cancer 51: 30
Woodhead PJ (1984) Thymic enlargement following chemotherapy. Br J Radiol 57: 932
Bartoye A, Bereaud C, Depierre A (1956) Hypertrophie thymique et primoinfection du nourrisson. Pediatrie (Lyon) 11: 545
Gelfand DW, Goldman AS, Law EJ (1972) Thymic hyperplasia in children recovering from thermal burns. J Trauma 12: 813
Risk G, Cuteo L, Amplatz K (1972) Rebound enlargement of the thymus after successful corrective surgery for transposition of the great vessels. AJR 116: 528
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bode, U., Scheidt, W. Change of thymic size during and following cytotoxic therapy in young patients. Pediatr Radiol 18, 20–23 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02395754
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02395754