Thymic hyperplasia following chemotherapy in adults with lymphoma: (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography findings and correlation with T cell repopulation.

Abstract

Thymic hyperplasia (TH) after chemotherapy is an infrequent phenomenon in adults. This study analyzed the incidence and metabolic activity of TH on 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in this population. By reviewing 471 PET/CT recordings of 211 adults with lymphoma, increased FDG uptake within an enlarged thymus regarded as TH was observed in 27 patients aged 18-53 years. FDG uptake in hyperplastic thymus was mild and diffuse, with a maximum standard uptake value (SUVmax) of 2.6±0.9. Its intensity varied with different occurrence times following chemotherapy. In addition, by comparing the recovery of T cell subsets in patients with TH (n=20) and without TH (n=28), no impact of the presence of TH was found on the repopulation of total CD4+and CD8+T cells within the first year after treatment. These data may be helpful to avoid misinterpretation of increased thymic uptake in adults.

• Authors: Dao-Ping Sun, Chong-Yang Ding, Li Wang, Jin-Hua Liang, Lei Fan, Yu-Jie Wu, Tian Tian, Tian-Nv Li, Wei Xu, Jian-Yong Li
• Journal: Leukemia & lymphoma (Leuk Lymphoma) Vol. 56 Issue 8 Pg. 2344-9 ( 2015) ISSN: 1029-2403 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 25407653 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Fluorodeoxyglucose F18

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols (adverse effects)
• Female
• Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Immunophenotyping
• Lymphoma (complications, diagnosis, drug therapy)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasm Staging
• Positron-Emission Tomography
• T-Lymphocyte Subsets (metabolism, pathology)
• Thymus Hyperplasia (diagnosis, etiology)
• Time Factors
• Tomography, X-Ray Computed
• Treatment Outcome
• Young Adult