|
| Sonographic Findings of NormaI Thymus in Young Children |
|
| Chan Sup Park, M.D., Kyung Hee Lee, M.D., Eul Hye seok, M.D., Soon Ki Kim, M.D.1, Woo Sun Kim, M.D.2 |
|
| Department of Radiolgy, pediatrics1, College of Medicine, Inha University Department of Radiology2, College of Medicine, Seoul National University |
|
| PURPOSE : To determine the size, and sonographic characteristics of the normal thymus on sonograms of yuungchildren from infancy to 7 years of age. SUBJECTS & METHODE : One hundred and one children without clinicalevidence of thymic abnormality were scanned in longitudinal and axial planes with a 7.0- or 7.5- MHz transducer.We evaluated the size, shape, echogenicity and extent of thymus, and its spatial relationship with the adjacentgreat vessels. We compared the thymic echogenicity with the echogenicity of the liver. RESULTS : The thymus wasvisualized in 100 of the 101 patients. The mean longitudinal and anteroposterior measurements were 35.6 and l7.4mm for the right lobe, and 34.6 and l5.8 mm for the left lobe. The difference in mean dimensions between the agegroups were not statistically significant. On longitudinal sonograms, the right lobe tended to have an ovoid orcomma shape, whereas most of the left lobe had triangular shape. Normal thymus had homogeneous echogenicitysimiliar to that of the liver and the intensity was similiar or slightly less echogenic than that of the liver.The thymus was located anterior to the great vessels and extended down to the level of the heart. CONCLUSION : Thethymus is easily and clearly identified on sonograms with characteristic sonographic appearance in children frominfancy to 7 years old. |
|
| Keyword : Thymus US Ultrasound(US) in infants and children |
|
|
|
|
> Journal > Journal Search 
Journal of Korean Society of Ultrasound in Medicine 1995 ; 14 (1) : p.089-093
