Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Normal Thymus

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
The Thorax

  • 660 Accesses

Abstract

Even though the mediastinum encompasses several different anatomic structures, including the esophagus, lymph nodes, and cardiovascular structures, the mediastinal organ covered in this section will be the thymic gland, which is of true mediastinal origin, unlike the other structures. Traditionally the mediastinum has been divided into the superior, anterior, middle, and posterior compartments, which has informed lists of tumors that more commonly originate from these different compartments. It also seems practical from the surgical and pathological point of view to separate the mediastinum along these lines. However, the radiological features of the various compartments may be more specific in terms of the boundaries between compartments. Therefore, before we embark on a discussion of the rich pathology of mediastinal tumors, it is crucial not only to define the normal radiological characteristics and demarcations of the mediastinum but also to become familiar with the normal aspects of the thymic gland in order to address both pathological features and immunohistochemical profiles of some tumors.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 189.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 249.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Aquino SL, Duncan G, Taber KH, Sharma A, Hayman LA. Reconciliation of the anatomic, surgical, and radiographic classifications of the mediastinum. J Comput Assist Tomogr. 2001;25:489–92.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Felson B. Chest roentgenology. Philadelphia: Saunders; 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Fraser RG. Diagnosis of diseases of the chest. Philadelphia: Saunders; 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Heitzman ER. The mediastinum: radiologic correlations with anatomy and pathology. Berlin: Springer-Verlag; 1988.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  5. Shields TW. General thoracic surgery. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger; 1983.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Whitten CR, Khan S, Munneke GJ, Grubnic S. A diagnostic approach to mediastinal abnormalities. Radiographics. 2007;27:657–71.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Carter BW, Tomiyama N, Bhora FY, et al. A modern definition of mediastinal compartments. J Thorac Oncol. 2014;9:S97–101.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Carter BW, Benveniste MF, Madan R, et al. ITMIG classification of mediastinal compartments and multidisciplinary approach to mediastinal masses. Radiographics. 2017;37:413–36.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Carter BW, Okumura M, Detterbeck FC, Marom EM. Approaching the patient with an anterior mediastinal mass: a guide for radiologists. J Thorac Oncol. 2014;9:S110–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Tomiyama N, Honda O, Tsubamoto M, et al. Anterior mediastinal tumors: diagnostic accuracy of CT and MRI. Eur J Radiol. 2009;69:280–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Ackman JB. MR imaging of mediastinal masses. Magn Reson Imaging Clin N Am. 2015;23:141–64.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Ackman JB, Wu CC. MRI of the thymus. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2011;197:W15–20.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Daye D, Ackman JB. Characterization of mediastinal masses by MRI: techniques and applications. Appl Radiol. 2017;46:10–22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Kubota K, Yamada S, Kondo T, et al. PET imaging of primary mediastinal tumours. Br J Cancer. 1996;73:882–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  15. Luzzi L, Campione A, Gorla A, et al. Role of fluorine-flurodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography in preoperative assessment of anterior mediastinal masses. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2009;36:475–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Sung YM, Lee KS, Kim BT, Choi JY, Shim YM, Yi CA. 18F-FDG PET/CT of thymic epithelial tumors: usefulness for distinguishing and staging tumor subgroups. J Nucl Med. 2006;47:1628–34.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Treglia G, Sadeghi R, Giovanella L, Cafarotti S, Filosso P, Lococo F. Is (18)F-FDG PET useful in predicting the WHO grade of malignancy in thymic epithelial tumors? A meta-analysis. Lung Cancer. 2014;86:5–13.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Kirschner PA. The history of surgery of the thymus gland. Chest Surg Clin N Am. 2000;10:153–65.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Jacobs MT, Frush DP, Donnelly LF. The right place and the wrong time: historical perspective of the relation of the thymus gland and pediatric radiology. Radiology. 1999;210:11–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Miller J. The discovery of thymus function and thymus-derived lymphocytes. Immunol Rev. 2002;185:7–14.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Lavini C. The thymus from antiquity to the present day: the history of a mysterious gland. Chapter 1. In: Lavini C, Moran CA, Morandi U, Schoenhuber R, editors. Thymus gland pathology. Springer; 2008.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  22. Kalhor N, Moran CA. Mediastinal pathology. Chapter 1. Springer; 2019.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  23. Perez YE, Moran CA. The thymus: general concepts on embryology, anatomy, histology, and immunohistochemistry. Sem Diag Pathol. 2022;39(2):86–91.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Palumbo C. Embryology and anatomy of the thymus gland. Chapter 2. In: Lavini C, Moran CA, Morandi U, Schoenhuber R, editors. Thymus gland pathology. Springer; 2008.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Kendal MD, Johnson HR, Singh J. The weight of the human thymus gland at necropsy. J Anat. 1980;131:483–97.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Suster S, Rosai J. Histology of the normal thymus. Am J Surg Pathol. 1990;14:284–303.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Henry K. Mucin secretion and striated muscle in the human thymus. Lancet. 1966;1:183–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Wolf M, Rosai J, Wright DH. Sebaceous glands within the thymus: report of three cases. Hum Pathol. 1984;15:341–3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Isaacson PG, Norton AJ, Addis BJ. The human thymus contains a novel population of B-lymphocytes. Lancet. 1987;2:1488–92.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Cimpean A, Encina S, Raica M, Ribatti D. SOX2 gene expression in normal human thymus and thymoma. Clin Exp Med. 2011;11:251–4.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Wu M, Sun K, Gil J, et al. Immunohistochemical detection of p63 and XIAP in thymic hyperplasia and thymomas. Am J Clin Pathol. 2009;131:689–93.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Dotto J, Pelosi G, Rosai J. Expression of p63 in thymomas and normal thymus. Am J Clin Pathol. 2007;127:415–20.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Chan JKC, Tsang WYW, Seneviratne S, Pau MY. The MIC2 antibody O13. Practical application for the study of thymic epithelial tumors. Am J Surg Pathol. 1995;19:1115–23.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Pescarmona E, Pisacane A, Pignatelli E, Baroni CD. Expression of epidermal and nerve growth factor receptors in human thymus and thymomas. Histopathology. 1993;23:39–44.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Thoracic Imaging, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

    Chad D. Strange, Patricia M. de Groot & Mylene T. Truong

  2. Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

    Cesar A. Moran

Authors
  1. Chad D. Strange
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Patricia M. de Groot
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mylene T. Truong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Cesar A. Moran
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Patricia M. de Groot .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer, Houston, TX, USA

    Cesar A. Moran

  2. Department of Thoracic Imaging, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer, Houston, TX, USA

    Mylene T. Truong

  3. Department of Thoracic Imaging, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer, Houston, TX, USA

    Patricia M. de Groot

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Strange, C.D., de Groot, P.M., Truong, M.T., Moran, C.A. (2023). Normal Thymus. In: Moran, C.A., Truong, M.T., de Groot, P.M. (eds) The Thorax. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-21040-2_2

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-21040-2_2

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-031-21039-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-21040-2

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation