Plain radiography and computed tomography of invasive thymomas: clinico-radiologic-pathologic correlation

Fifteen computed tomography (CT) scans in nine patients with invasive thymoma are presented. The CT findings were an anterior mediastinal mass (89%), pleural deposits (78%), local infiltration of the mediastinum (100]), invasion of the cardiovascular structures (22%), lung invasion (11%) and diaphragmatic or subdiaphragmatic deposits (33%). Radiologic-pathologic correlation available in six patients showed a sensitivity of 89.5%, specificity of 87.5% and accuracy of 88.6% for CT. We conclude that CT is superior to plain radiography in the diagnosis of invasive thymoma. It provides an accurate pre-operative assessment by better demonstration of the full extent of abnormalities, and is useful in surgical planning, monitoring of therapeutic response and detecting recurrence.