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Thymomas and Other Thymic Primary Malignancies of the Chest

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Functional Imaging in Oncology

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Abstract

Thymic epithelial tumor is a rare mediastinal neoplasm but is the most common primary neoplasm of the anterior mediastinum. Radiologists and clinicians must be aware of the full spectrum of this rare disease, the standard guidelines for diagnostic evaluation, and how imaging findings affect therapeutic decisions. We present the variable imaging appearance of the normal thymus, the imaging features, and current staging of thymic neoplasms with an emphasis on how imaging interpretation affects management.

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Abbreviations

201Tl:

Thallium 201

ACTH:

Adrenocorticotropic hormone

CT:

Computed tomography

FDG:

Fluorodeoxyglucose

ITMIG:

International Thymic Malignancy Interest Group

MRI:

Magnetic resonance imaging

OctreoScan:

Radiolabeled octreotide

PET-CT:

Integrated positron emission tomography

SUVmax:

Standard uptake value

WHO:

World Health Organization

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Diagnostic Imaging, Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Unit 1478, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Marcelo F. K. Benveniste MD

Authors
  1. Marcelo F. K. Benveniste MD
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Correspondence to Marcelo F. K. Benveniste MD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Health Time Group, Jaén, Spain

    Antonio Luna

  2. Clinica Girona Hospital Sta. Caterina, Gerona, Spain

    Joan C. Vilanova

  3. CDPI and IRM, Botafongo - Rio de Janeiro/RJ, Brazil

    L. Celso Hygino Da Cruz Jr.

  4. Centro de Diagnóstico Dr. Enrique Rossi, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Santiago E. Rossi

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Benveniste, M.F.K. (2014). Thymomas and Other Thymic Primary Malignancies of the Chest. In: Luna, A., Vilanova, J., Hygino Da Cruz Jr., L., Rossi, S. (eds) Functional Imaging in Oncology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-40582-2_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-40582-2_8

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-40582-2

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