title: Plain radiography and computed tomography of invasive thymomas: clinico-radiologic-pathologic correlation.
abstract: Fifteen computed tomography (CT) scans in nine patients with invasive thymoma are presented. The CT findings were an anterior mediastinal mass (89%), pleural deposits (78%), local infiltration of the mediastinum (100]), invasion of the cardiovascular structures (22%), lung invasion (11%) and diaphragmatic or subdiaphragmatic deposits (33%). Radiologic-pathologic correlation available in six patients showed a sensitivity of 89.5%, specificity of 87.5% and accuracy of 88.6% for CT. We conclude that CT is superior to plain radiography in the diagnosis of invasive thymoma. It provides an accurate pre-operative assessment by better demonstration of the full extent of abnormalities, and is useful in surgical planning, monitoring of therapeutic response and detecting recurrence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Organ Imaging, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: W T
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: K I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Metreweli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013945:Thymoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000473:pathology; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed