Thymic rebound after treatment of childhood tumors.
The development of a widened mediastinum in patients with neoplastic disease frequently indicates tumor recurrence or spread. Seven cases of mediastinal widening in children with a variety of neoplasms are described wherein the etiology is either proven or strongly suspected to be benign thymic enlargement. Awareness of this benign etiology for mediastinal widening may avert a diagnostic surgical procedure. A steroid trial in certain specific cases may assist in differentiating benign from malignant etiologies.
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008482:Mediastinum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D011241:Prednisone; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D011241:Prednisone