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. 2022 Oct 11:2022:6837774.
doi: 10.1155/2022/6837774. eCollection 2022.

Special Computed Tomography Imaging Features of Thymic Cyst

Zhi-Liang He  1 , Zhao-Yang Wang  1 , Zhi-Ying Ji  2
Affiliations

Special Computed Tomography Imaging Features of Thymic Cyst

Zhi-Liang He et al. Int J Clin Pract. .

Abstract

Objective: To explore the features and diagnostic value of computed tomography (CT) imaging in cases of thymic cysts.

Methods: A total of 24 cases of the thymic cysts (confirmed by postoperative pathology) were retrospectively analyzed. The location, morphology, and density of the thymic cysts were summarized, and the changes in CT value of the region of interest (ROI) in the thymic cysts between noncontrast enhanced and enhanced chest scans were compared and classified.

Results: The average long-axis dimension was 17.50 ± 6.00 mm, the CT value range across the 24 cases was 5-81 HU, and the average CT value of the noncontrast enhanced scans was 39.75 ± 20.66 HU. The CT value in the noncontrast enhanced scan was >20 HU in 79% of the sample cases. The CT value in the ROI of the thymic cysts under enhanced scan showed a significant decrease in 15 cases, a significant increase in 5 cases, and an insignificant change in 4 cases.

Conclusion: The CT values of the thymic cysts in the enhanced scans were generally lower than in the noncontrast enhanced scans, which might be a valuable finding for thymic cysts diagnosis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
CT findings and histopathological characteristics (a): Male patient, 65 years old, with thymic cyst: (A1) CT value of 81 HU in the noncontrast enhanced scan; (A2) CT value of 42 HU at the arterial phase. (b): Female patient, 60 years old, with a rough left margin of the thymic cysts. The pathological results detected a thymic cysts with type-A thymoma (HE 4 × 10). (c): Male patient, 40 years old, with calcification of the inferior wall of the thymic cysts. (d): Male patient, 56 years old, with marginal lobulation on the edge of the cyst in the CT scan. (e): Female patient, 57 years old; thymic cysts detected by physical examination. E1 = exhalation state and E2 = inhalation state (white arrow). There were changes in the CT value and morphology of the cyst in different phases. (f): Male patient, 53 years old, with thymic cysts. Enhanced scan suggested mild enhancement of the cyst. (g): Female patient, 65 years old. The CT showed no obvious structure of the cyst wall. The pathological results suggested a multilocular cystic thymic cysts (HE 10 × 10).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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