Change of thymic size during and following cytotoxic therapy in young patients.
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.
Children's Hospital, Bonn, FRG.
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Bode
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Scheidt
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000188:drug therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000187:drug effects; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed