Correlation between MSCT findings and pathological classification of thymic neuroendocrine tumors / 实用放射学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the MSCT appearances of thymic neuroendocrine tumors (NETs)and its correlation with the WHO histological grade.Methods MSCT features of 16 patients with thymic NETs confirmed by pathology were analyzed retro-spectively.The patients were divided into 2 groups according to tumor's grade,i.e.low and intermediate grade,high grade.Results There were 8 patients in low and intermediate grade,8 in high grade.No difference was found among tumor location,size,tumor morphology,calcification,pericardiac thickening,pericardial effusion,pleural thickening,pleural effusion,disappearance of fat line around tumor and mass-pulmonary interface with irregular shape,but significant difference was detected in lymph node metastasis. On enhanced MSCT scanning,statistical difference was detected in linear enhancement of the blood vessels in the tumors,but no difference was found between necrosis and peripheral vessel invasion.Conclusion MSCT findings of different grades in thymic NETs have some characteristics and can be helpful in the grades of predictability.