title: Thymic epithelial tumors classified according to a newly established WHO scheme: CT and MR findings.
abstract: Thymic epithelial tumor is a distinctive pathologic entity exhibiting variable histologic features and heterogeneous oncologic behavior. Among the various classification systems, that of the World Health Organization has been adopted because of good correlation between histologic appearance and oncologic behavior. Radiologically, a smooth contour and round shape are most suggestive of a type-A tumor, whereas an irregular contour most strongly suggests type C. Pleural seeding is rare in type-A and AB tumors; calcification is suggestive of type B. Type-C tumors are significantly larger and more commonly associated with lymphadenopathy than type B3. At T2-weighted MR imaging, lobular internal architecture is more prominent in types B1, B2, and B3 tumors than in others. However, imaging findings among the various types overlap to some extent, and the ability of imaging studies to differentiate types AB, B1, B2, and B3 is limited.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Pathology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Joungho
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Kyung Soo
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chin A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.forename: Tae Sung
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Young Mog
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.forename: Jhingook
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kwhanmien
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: O Jung
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: Kwon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009375:Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis; D013945:Thymoma / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000473:pathology; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014944:World Health Organization