Diffusion-Weighted MR Imaging of the Thymus in Children with Non-Thymic Neoplasms
<b>Purpose:</b> To investigate the diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) findings and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value of the thymus in children under the age of 13 who have non-thymic neoplasms. <b>Materials and Methods</b>: From January 2021 to April 2023, a single-cen...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Diagnostics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/13/24/3654 |
| _version_ | 1797381402125139968 |
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| author | Sook Min Hwang Ji Eun Park So-Young Yoo Ji Hye Kim Sun-Young Baek Sung-Hoon Moon Tae Yeon Jeon |
| author_facet | Sook Min Hwang Ji Eun Park So-Young Yoo Ji Hye Kim Sun-Young Baek Sung-Hoon Moon Tae Yeon Jeon |
| author_sort | Sook Min Hwang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <b>Purpose:</b> To investigate the diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) findings and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value of the thymus in children under the age of 13 who have non-thymic neoplasms. <b>Materials and Methods</b>: From January 2021 to April 2023, a single-center retrospective study analyzed consecutive 191 thoracic MRI scans with DWI from 67 children (<13 years) with non-thymic neoplasms. The scans were categorized based on the presence of restricted diffusion on DWI. We analyzed the demographics, laboratory data, and MR findings of the thymus. Statistical differences were assessed using generalized estimating equations. <b>Results</b>: Forty-five percent (86/191) of the scans exhibited restricted diffusion in the thymus: multifocal (<i>n</i> = 65; 76%), focal (<i>n</i> = 19; 22%), and diffuse (<i>n</i> = 2; 2%) patterns. The restricted diffusion group demonstrated higher absolute lymphocyte counts, more prominent thymus sizes, and higher frequency of off-treatment status compared to the unrestricted diffusion group (<i>p</i>>0.05). The mean ADC value across all 191 scans was 1.80 × 10<sup>−3</sup> mm<sup>2</sup>/s. No significant difference was observed in the ADC value related to restricted diffusion patterns, the MRI vendors, or the age at the time of the scan. <b>Conclusions</b>: Restricted diffusion was observed in 45% of the thymus in children with non-thymic neoplasms, with a mean ADC value of 1.80 × 10<sup>−3</sup> mm<sup>2</sup>/s. Recognizing the DWI findings can prevent unnecessary invasive procedures, alleviating concerns for patients and families. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T20:52:01Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4418 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T20:52:01Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diagnostics |
| spelling | doaj.art-acc600a2b3204825a2bb554a7c68798e2023-12-22T14:03:13ZengMDPI AGDiagnostics2075-44182023-12-011324365410.3390/diagnostics13243654Diffusion-Weighted MR Imaging of the Thymus in Children with Non-Thymic NeoplasmsSook Min Hwang0Ji Eun Park1So-Young Yoo2Ji Hye Kim3Sun-Young Baek4Sung-Hoon Moon5Tae Yeon Jeon6Department of Radiology, Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Seoul 07441, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Radiology and Center for Imaging Science, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul 06531, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Radiology and Center for Imaging Science, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul 06531, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Radiology and Center for Imaging Science, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul 06531, Republic of KoreaBiomedical Statistics Center and Research Institute for Future Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul 06351, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Anyang 14068, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Radiology and Center for Imaging Science, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul 06531, Republic of Korea<b>Purpose:</b> To investigate the diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) findings and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value of the thymus in children under the age of 13 who have non-thymic neoplasms. <b>Materials and Methods</b>: From January 2021 to April 2023, a single-center retrospective study analyzed consecutive 191 thoracic MRI scans with DWI from 67 children (<13 years) with non-thymic neoplasms. The scans were categorized based on the presence of restricted diffusion on DWI. We analyzed the demographics, laboratory data, and MR findings of the thymus. Statistical differences were assessed using generalized estimating equations. <b>Results</b>: Forty-five percent (86/191) of the scans exhibited restricted diffusion in the thymus: multifocal (<i>n</i> = 65; 76%), focal (<i>n</i> = 19; 22%), and diffuse (<i>n</i> = 2; 2%) patterns. The restricted diffusion group demonstrated higher absolute lymphocyte counts, more prominent thymus sizes, and higher frequency of off-treatment status compared to the unrestricted diffusion group (<i>p</i>>0.05). The mean ADC value across all 191 scans was 1.80 × 10<sup>−3</sup> mm<sup>2</sup>/s. No significant difference was observed in the ADC value related to restricted diffusion patterns, the MRI vendors, or the age at the time of the scan. <b>Conclusions</b>: Restricted diffusion was observed in 45% of the thymus in children with non-thymic neoplasms, with a mean ADC value of 1.80 × 10<sup>−3</sup> mm<sup>2</sup>/s. Recognizing the DWI findings can prevent unnecessary invasive procedures, alleviating concerns for patients and families.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/13/24/3654thymusdiffusion-weighted imagingapparent diffusion coefficientpediatrics |
| spellingShingle | Sook Min Hwang Ji Eun Park So-Young Yoo Ji Hye Kim Sun-Young Baek Sung-Hoon Moon Tae Yeon Jeon Diffusion-Weighted MR Imaging of the Thymus in Children with Non-Thymic Neoplasms Diagnostics thymus diffusion-weighted imaging apparent diffusion coefficient pediatrics |
| title | Diffusion-Weighted MR Imaging of the Thymus in Children with Non-Thymic Neoplasms |
| title_full | Diffusion-Weighted MR Imaging of the Thymus in Children with Non-Thymic Neoplasms |
| title_fullStr | Diffusion-Weighted MR Imaging of the Thymus in Children with Non-Thymic Neoplasms |
| title_full_unstemmed | Diffusion-Weighted MR Imaging of the Thymus in Children with Non-Thymic Neoplasms |
| title_short | Diffusion-Weighted MR Imaging of the Thymus in Children with Non-Thymic Neoplasms |
| title_sort | diffusion weighted mr imaging of the thymus in children with non thymic neoplasms |
| topic | thymus diffusion-weighted imaging apparent diffusion coefficient pediatrics |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/13/24/3654 |
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