Computed tomographic findings and prognosis in thymic epithelial tumor patients.
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.
Yakushiji
Satomi
S
Divisions of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital and Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan.
Tateishi
Ukihide
U
Nagai
Shunji
S
Matsuno
Yoshihiro
Y
Nakagawa
Kazuo
K
Asamura
Hisao
H
Kusumoto
Masahiko
M
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