Diagnostic and functional imaging of thymic and mediastinal involvement in lymphoproliferative disorders

Clin Imaging. 2014 Nov-Dec;38(6):771-84. doi: 10.1016/j.clinimag.2014.05.012. Epub 2014 Jun 4.

Abstract

Lymphoproliferative disorders of the anterior mediastinum may involve the thymus or lymph nodes as part of disseminated disease or as an isolated site. Imaging is crucial in managing patients with mediastinal lymphoma and is employed in pretreatment assessment, midtreatment evaluation of response, posttreatment restaging, and surveillance during follow-up. For decades, computed tomography (CT) has been the standard imaging technique, although in the last years, positron emission tomography (PET)-CT and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have been introduced. We discuss the role of different imaging techniques in the assessment of patients with mediastinal lymphoma, focusing on novel aspects of PET-CT and diffusion-weighted/MRI.

Keywords: (18)F-FDG/PET–CT; Computed tomography; Lymphoma; Magnetic resonance imaging; Thymus.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Diagnostic Imaging / methods*
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Humans
  • Lymph Nodes / diagnostic imaging
  • Lymph Nodes / pathology
  • Lymphoma / diagnosis*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
  • Mediastinal Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Mediastinal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Mediastinum / diagnostic imaging
  • Mediastinum / pathology
  • Multimodal Imaging / methods
  • Positron-Emission Tomography / methods
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Thymus Gland / diagnostic imaging
  • Thymus Gland / pathology
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods

Substances

  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18