Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Normal thymus: assessment with MR and CT.

G de Geer, W R Webb, G Gamsu

    Radiology
    |February 1, 1986
    PubMed
    Summary
    This summary is machine-generated.

    Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging reveals distinct thymus characteristics compared to fat, with T1 relaxation times varying by age. MR may offer superior differentiation of thymic tissue from mediastinal fat than computed tomography (CT).

    Related Concept Videos

    You might also read

    Related Articles

    Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

    Sort by
    Same author

    A consensus statement of the Society of Thoracic Radiology: screening for lung cancer with helical computed tomography.

    Journal of thoracic imaging·2001
    Same author

    Optimization of combined CT pulmonary angiography with lower extremity CT venography.

    AJR. American journal of roentgenology·2000
    Same author

    Parenchymal and pleural findings in patients with and patients without acute pulmonary embolism detected at spiral CT.

    Radiology·1999
    Same author

    High-resolution CT in the evaluation of clinically suspected Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in AIDS patients with normal, equivocal, or nonspecific radiographic findings.

    AJR. American journal of roentgenology·1997
    Same author

    Miliary lung disease after intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin immunotherapy.

    Radiology·1996
    Same author

    Causes of pulmonary impairment in asbestos-exposed individuals with diffuse pleural thickening.

    American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine·1996

    Area of Science:

    • Radiology
    • Medical Imaging
    • Anatomy

    Background:

    • The thymus gland plays a crucial role in the immune system and undergoes age-related changes.
    • Differentiating normal thymic tissue from surrounding structures is important for accurate diagnosis.

    Observation:

    • Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging was used to evaluate the normal thymus in 18 patients (ages 5-77).
    • Computed tomographic (CT) findings were available for 13 patients.
    • The thymus was consistently visible on MR imaging and showed different hydrogen density compared to subcutaneous fat.

    Findings:

    • The thymus to fat hydrogen density ratio averaged 0.60.
    • T1 relaxation times of the thymus were significantly longer than fat in individuals under 30, with this difference diminishing with age.

    Related Experiment Videos

  • T2 relaxation times of the thymus were similar to fat and did not vary with age.
  • The thymus appeared thicker on MR images than CT scans in patients over 20 years old.

    • Implications:

    • MR imaging provides valuable insights into the age-dependent characteristics of the normal thymus.
    • MR may be more effective than CT in distinguishing thymic tissue from mediastinal fat, aiding in diagnostic accuracy.