title: Computed tomographic findings and prognosis in thymic epithelial tumor patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine which computed tomographic findings are associated with high-risk thymic epithelial tumors and a poor prognosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Computed tomographic findings of thymic epithelial neoplasms were retrospectively evaluated in 75 patients diagnosed with thymic tumor between January 1997 and October 2003. We analyzed the correlation of the computed tomographic findings, histological subtype according to the World Health Organization classification, and the prognosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 34 with type A approximately B1 tumor and 41 with type B2 approximately C tumor. On multiple regression analysis, vascular obliteration and a blunt sternum-anterior mediastinum angle were more frequent with thymic carcinoma than with thymoma. On multivariate analysis, pleural effusion and mediastinal fat infiltration on initial computed tomography had a significant impact on survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vascular obliteration and a blunt sternum-anterior mediastinum angle were predictive of thymic carcinoma. Pleural effusion and mediastinal fat infiltration were predictive of a poor prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Divisions of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital and Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Satomi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yakushiji
authors.forename: Ukihide
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Tateishi
authors.forename: Shunji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nagai
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Matsuno
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
authors.forename: Hisao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Asamura
authors.forename: Masahiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kusumoto
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008482:Mediastinum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D016066:Pleural Effusion, Malignant / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013249:Sternum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000401:mortality*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed