Computed tomography of the abnormal thymus.

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Abstract
Computed tomography (CT) should be the imaging method of choice following plain chest radiographs when a suspected thymic abnormality requires further evaluation. Based upon a 6 yr experience, including the evaluation of 25 patients with thymic pathology, CT was found useful in suggesting or excluding a diagnosis of thymoma and in distinguishing thymic hyperplasia from thymoma in patients with myasthenia gravis. The thickness of the thymic lobes determined by CT was a more accurate indicator of infiltrative disease (thymic hyperplasia and lymphoma) than the width. CT was helpful in differentiating benign thymic cysts from solid tumors and in defining the extent of a thymic neoplasm. On occasion, CT may suggest the specific histologic nature of a thymic lesion.