Features of thymic tumors on chest X-ray

After comparing the chest radiograph with the results of thymic pathology, the image of thymoma on the chest radiograph will show a dilated mediastinal shadow, posterior sternal opacity and calcification.

Thymoma is a tumor in the mediastinum, all cases of thymoma have the ability to invade, so it is considered a malignancy.
Causes and risk factors leading to thymoma are not well defined. The disease often has no specific clinical manifestations, a few patients have local symptoms such as: Cough, chest pain, dysphagia and muscle weakness.
Treatment methods for thymic tumors applied today are surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy alone or in combination depending on the stage of the disease.

Chest X-ray is a technique of taking x-rays of the chest. Through the x-ray, the doctor will see images of the heart, lungs, airways as well as blood vessels and lymph nodes. In some special cases, performing a chest X-ray also shows the spine and chest bones, so it is also indicated to look for abnormalities inside the chest.
Although there are many modern exploration methods such as: computed tomography, nuclear magnetic resonance imaging, chest X-ray still plays an indispensable role in the diagnosis and treatment of thymoma. When comparing the chest X-ray film with the anatomical results of the thymus disease, the image of thymus tumor on the chest radiograph shows:
The mediastinal shadow is dilated, blurred behind the sternum and calcified; Positive predictive value is 91.3% and negative predictive value is 64.3%; There is a close relationship between the ability to detect thymoma on chest x-ray and the stage of thymic tumor according to Masaoka's classification. Note, doctors may miss many important features if only relying on chest X-ray to detect thymoma in patients with myasthenia gravis, in case of detection, most thymoma is already in the thymus. late stage.

Before conducting a chest X-ray, the patient should note a few basic things as follows:
Should wear loose and comfortable clothes before going to the medical facility to take a chest X-ray; Do not wear jewelry, dental equipment, glasses or metal objects, as they can interfere with the X-ray image; If there is or is suspected to be pregnant, it is necessary to inform the doctor and technician for the best method of consideration; During a chest X-ray, you may have to sit or lie still to avoid blurring the image. Alternatively, your doctor may ask you to hold your breath for a few seconds during the scan. Therefore, you should follow your doctor's orders. Patients can return to normal activities after a chest X-ray and should not be too worried about X-ray exposure, as the amount of X-rays is very low and does not cause any significant harm if you have a chest X-ray. performed at reputable medical facilities. To get accurate results, patients need to go to a reputable hospital to conduct examination and treatment as soon as there are signs of thymoma. Currently, Vinmec International General Hospital is one of the top quality hospitals in the country, trusted by a large number of patients for medical examination and treatment. Not only the physical system, modern equipment: 6 ultrasound rooms; 4 DR X-ray rooms (1 full-axis, 1 intensifier, 1 synthesizer and 1 mammogram); 2 portable X-ray machines DR; 2 multi-row computer tomography rooms with receivers (1 128-series machine and 1 16-row machine); 2 rooms for magnetic resonance imaging (1 machine 3 Tesla and 1 machine 1.5 Tesla); 1 room for 2 levels of interventional angiography and 1 room to measure bone mineral density.... Vinmec is also the place where a team of experienced doctors and nurses will gather a lot of support in diagnosis and detection. early signs of abnormality in the patient's body. In particular, with a space designed according to 5-star hotel standards, Vinmec ensures to bring the patient the most comfort, friendliness and peace of mind.