Thymic enlargement and FDG uptake in three patients: CT and FDG positron emission tomography correlated with pathology

AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2003 Feb;180(2):519-22. doi: 10.2214/ajr.180.2.1800519.

Abstract

Objective: Our purpose was to describe three adult patients in whom we found increased thymic uptake of FDG on positron emission tomography and thymic enlargement with convex lateral margins on CT. Subsequent biopsy or resection showed normal thymic tissue.

Conclusion: In three adults, we found a physiologic uptake of FDG by the thymus with standardized uptake values in the range of thymic neoplasia.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18*
  • Humans
  • Radiopharmaceuticals*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Thymus Gland / diagnostic imaging
  • Thymus Hyperplasia / diagnosis*
  • Thymus Hyperplasia / diagnostic imaging
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed*

Substances

  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18