Abstract
The critical role of the thymus in the development of the immune system was unknown until recently. For a long time physicians were puzzled by the presence of a large thymus in early life and attributed many symptoms to it. This review briefly covers the history of the thymus and its function as a primary lymphoid organ, along with a short background of the development of the immune system. Thymic diseases and their imaging features are also reviewed briefly.
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Received: 2 September 1997 Accepted: 31 October 1997
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Leonidas, J. The thymus: from past misconception to present recognition. Pediatric Radiology 28, 275–282 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002470050351
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002470050351