Characterization of the normal and hyperplastic thymus on chemical-shift MR imaging.

Takahashi, Koji; Inaoka, Tsutomu; Murakami, Noboru; Hirota, Hatsune; Iwata, Kunihiro; Nagasawa, Kenichi; Yamada, Tomonori; Mineta, Masayuki et al. · AJR Am J Roentgenol · 2003

cross_sectional · Level IV

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Abstract

We designed our study to prospectively assess a potential role for chemical-shift MR imaging in identifying a thymus that has not been completely replaced by fat tissue. The thymic tissue revealed homogeneous decrease in intensity on opposed-phase MR images relative to that seen on in-phase images in 15 healthy volunteers and two patients with hyperplastic thymus. Chemical-shift MR imaging may be useful in identifying normal thymic tissue and the hyperplastic thymus in early adulthood.

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