[Thymus CT scan and thymoma associated antibodies in myasthenia gravis with thymoma].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the clinical significance of the serum anti-titin, anti-ryanodine receptor (RyR) antibody level and thymus CT scan in the diagnosis of myasthenia gravis with thymoma.


METHODS
Totally 32 patients with myasthenia gravis who had received thymectomy were included in the study. Abnormalities were shown under CT scan of thymus in all these patients. The relationships were studied among the pathological diagnosis, CT findings, and serum level of thymoma associated antibodies: anti-titin and anti-RyR antibodies.


RESULTS
The pathological diagnosis of thymoma was made in 21 patients and thymus hyperplasia in 11 patients after operation. The sensitivity of CT scan in the diagnosis of thymomas was 90.5%, the specificity of serum thymoma associated antibodies in the diagnosis of thymoma was 100%.


CONCLUSIONS
The thymoma-associated antibodies test is helpful in the differential diagnosis of thymomas and thymus hyperplasia; when combined with CT scan, it may achieve high sensitivity in the diagnosis of the thymoma.
Li
Yan-Feng
YF
Department of Neurology, PUMC Hospital, CAMS and PUMC, Beijing 100730, China.
Li
Yong-Hong
YH
Cui
Li-Ying
LY
D000328:Adult; D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000276:immunology; D019837:Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel / Q000276:immunology; D013945:Thymoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000276:immunology; D013952:Thymus Hyperplasia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000276:immunology; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000276:immunology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm; D001323:Autoantibodies; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019837:Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel