title: Evaluation of anterior mediastinal solid tumors by CT perfusion: a preliminary study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to assess the role of computed tomography (CT) perfusion in differentiation of thymoma from thymic hyperplasia, lymphoma, thymic carcinoma, and lung cancer invading anterior mediastinum.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, 25 patients with an anterior mediastinal lesion underwent CT perfusion imaging from January 2015 to February 2016. Diagnoses included thymoma (n=7), thymic hyperplasia (n=8), lymphoma (n=4), thymic carcinoma (n=3), and invasive lung cancer (n=3). Lymphoma, thymic carcinoma, and lung cancer were grouped as malignant tumors for statistical analysis. Values for blood flow, blood volume, and permeability surface were measured in CT perfusion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Blood flow and blood volume values were higher in thymoma in comparison to thymic hyperplasia; however, the difference was not statistically significant. Blood volume values were significantly higher in thymoma (mean, 11.4 mL/100 mL; range, 5.2-20.2 mL/100 mL) compared with lymphoma (mean, 5.3 mL/100 mL; range, 2.5-7.2 mL/100 mL) (P = 0.023). Blood flow and blood volume values were significantly higher in thymoma compared with non-thymoma malignant tumors (P = 0.025).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CT perfusion is helpful in differentiating thymoma from non-thymoma malignancies including lymphoma, thymic carcinoma, and invasive lung cancer involving the anterior mediastinum.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, İstanbul University Cerrahpaşa School of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey. dr.selim79@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Selim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bakan
authors.forename: Sedat Giray
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Kandemirli
authors.forename: Atilla Süleyman
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Dikici
authors.forename: Ezel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Erşen
authors.forename: Onur
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yıldırım
authors.forename: Cesur
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Samancı
authors.forename: Şebnem
authors.initials: Ş
authors.lastname: Batur
authors.forename: Deniz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Çebi Olgun
authors.forename: Fatih
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kantarcı
authors.forename: Canan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Akman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008875:Middle Aged; D055420:Perfusion Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult