[Diagnostic radiology of the thymus in children (author's transl)]

Statements based on the observation of 5 cases. Diagnosis by radiology is difficult in: 1) Thymic hyperplasia of unusual size and shape, 2) presence of a "thymus-shadow" beyond the second year of life. 3) Presence of stridor attributed to hyperplasia of the thymic gland. 4) Atypical location of the thymus. Probatory application of steroids can be diagnostically valuable, should however, be applied and interpreted critically. In dystopic forms, especially when localised in the posterior mediastinum, thoracotomy so far has been the only reliable diagnostic method.