Thymic carcinoma MRI
Thymic Carcinoma Microchapters |
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Thymic carcinoma MRI On the Web |
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Thymic carcinoma MRI |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Alejandro Lemor, M.D. [2]Parminder Dhingra, M.D. [3]
Overview
Chest MRI scan may be diagnostic of thymic carcinoma. Findings on chest MRI suggestive of thymic carcinoma include isointense to slightly hyperintense signal compared to muscle on T1 and heterogeneous signal on T2. On T1 C+ (GD) linear regions of enhancement may be seen coursing through the mass, thought to represent fibrous septae.
MRI
On chest MRI, thymic carcinoma is characterized by:
- T1: isointense to slightly hyperintense signal compared to muscle
- T2:
- heterogeneous signal, slightly higher than muscle
- cystic areas may be seen, especially in larger tumours
- fibrous septa crossing the mass are of low signal intensity
- In/out phase imaging: typically no signal drop out i.e. no chemical shift
- T1 C+ (Gd): linear regions of enhancement may be seen coursing though the mass, thought to represent fibrous septae