Chemical-shift MRI of rebound thymic hyperplasia with unusual appearance and intense (18)F-FDG uptake in adulthood: report of two cases.

Abstract

Rebound thymic hyperplasia (RTH) with increased (18)F-FGD uptake at positron emission tomography (PET) computed tomography (CT) is typical of pediatric patients after chemotherapy, although it may occasionally occur in adults. At CT, RTH usually appears as a diffusely enlarged thymus with areas of fatty attenuation. We report two cases of RTH in adults detected at follow-up: both showed unusual morphology on CT and were confirmed at PET-CT as areas of strongly increased radiopharmaceutical uptake, which suggested disease recurrence. Chemical-shift magnetic resonance imaging, however, demonstrated fat infiltration within the tissue. Such finding was consistent with the diagnosis of RTH and was paramount in preventing unnecessary invasive procedures or treatments.

• Authors: Adriano Massimiliano Priola, Sandro Massimo Priola
• Journal: Clinical imaging (Clin Imaging) 2014 Sep-Oct Vol. 38 Issue 5 Pg. 739-42 ISSN: 1873-4499 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 24667047 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Radiopharmaceuticals
• Fluorodeoxyglucose F18

Topics

• Adult
• Female
• Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 (pharmacokinetics)
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (methods)
• Middle Aged
• Positron-Emission Tomography (methods)
• Radiopharmaceuticals (pharmacokinetics)
• Recurrence
• Thymus Gland (metabolism, pathology)
• Thymus Hyperplasia (diagnosis, metabolism)
• Tomography, X-Ray Computed (methods)