Objective. Thymus alterations have been related to several autoimmune disorders. In particular, previous studies identified a significant frequency of gland abnormalities by chest high-resolution CT (HRCT) in SSc patients. In this study we aimed to investigate the prevalence of radiological thymic alterations and their correlation with clinical and serological features in a large SSc series.Methods. We retrospectively evaluated thymic shape on CT scans of 200 consecutive, unselected SSc patients aged over 30 years The presence of radiological abnormalities, i.e. enlarged gland >13 mm or nodular lesions >7 mm, was correlated with SSc clinico-serological features. Moreover, the patients were also classified using a second thickness cut-off of 7 mm in order to identify incomplete thymic involution.Results. Twenty-four of 200 (12%) SSc patients presented an abnormal thymus at HRCT, including hyperplasic (19/24) and nodular (5/24) glands. Otherwise, using the cut-off of 7 mm for gland thickness and excluding subjects with nodular thymus, 50/195 (25.6%) patients presented an incomplete thymic involution. Thymic radiological alterations are significantly correlated with younger age and diffuse cutaneous SSc. Moreover, an abnormally enlarged thymus tended to be more common in patients with shorter disease duration.Conclusion. The present report on a large series of SSc patients further reinforces previous data present in the literature that includes other cohort studies and a number of anecdotal observations. Even though the actual role of thymus radiological abnormalities remains unclear, possible involvement of the gland in the early phase of immune-mediated SSc pathogenesis might be supposed.

Radiological thymus alterations in systemic sclerosis: our experience and a review of the literature / Colaci, Michele; Giuggioli, D; Manfredi, Andreina Teresa; Vacchi, Caterina; DELLA CASA, Giovanni; Ferri, Clodoveo. - In: RHEUMATOLOGY. - ISSN 1462-0324. - STAMPA. - 53:4(2014), pp. 732-736. [10.1093/rheumatology/ket419]

Radiological thymus alterations in systemic sclerosis: our experience and a review of the literature.

COLACI, Michele;Giuggioli D;MANFREDI, Andreina Teresa;VACCHI, CATERINA;DELLA CASA, GIOVANNI;FERRI, Clodoveo
2014

Abstract

Objective. Thymus alterations have been related to several autoimmune disorders. In particular, previous studies identified a significant frequency of gland abnormalities by chest high-resolution CT (HRCT) in SSc patients. In this study we aimed to investigate the prevalence of radiological thymic alterations and their correlation with clinical and serological features in a large SSc series.Methods. We retrospectively evaluated thymic shape on CT scans of 200 consecutive, unselected SSc patients aged over 30 years The presence of radiological abnormalities, i.e. enlarged gland >13 mm or nodular lesions >7 mm, was correlated with SSc clinico-serological features. Moreover, the patients were also classified using a second thickness cut-off of 7 mm in order to identify incomplete thymic involution.Results. Twenty-four of 200 (12%) SSc patients presented an abnormal thymus at HRCT, including hyperplasic (19/24) and nodular (5/24) glands. Otherwise, using the cut-off of 7 mm for gland thickness and excluding subjects with nodular thymus, 50/195 (25.6%) patients presented an incomplete thymic involution. Thymic radiological alterations are significantly correlated with younger age and diffuse cutaneous SSc. Moreover, an abnormally enlarged thymus tended to be more common in patients with shorter disease duration.Conclusion. The present report on a large series of SSc patients further reinforces previous data present in the literature that includes other cohort studies and a number of anecdotal observations. Even though the actual role of thymus radiological abnormalities remains unclear, possible involvement of the gland in the early phase of immune-mediated SSc pathogenesis might be supposed.
2014
53
4
732
736
Radiological thymus alterations in systemic sclerosis: our experience and a review of the literature / Colaci, Michele; Giuggioli, D; Manfredi, Andreina Teresa; Vacchi, Caterina; DELLA CASA, Giovanni; Ferri, Clodoveo. - In: RHEUMATOLOGY. - ISSN 1462-0324. - STAMPA. - 53:4(2014), pp. 732-736. [10.1093/rheumatology/ket419]
Colaci, Michele; Giuggioli, D; Manfredi, Andreina Teresa; Vacchi, Caterina; DELLA CASA, Giovanni; Ferri, Clodoveo
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
lavoro timo online.pdf

Solo gestori archivio

Tipologia: Versione pubblicata dall'editore
Dimensione 121.29 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
121.29 kB Adobe PDF   Visualizza/Apri   Richiedi una copia
Pubblicazioni consigliate

Licenza Creative Commons
I metadati presenti in IRIS UNIMORE sono rilasciati con licenza Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal, mentre i file delle pubblicazioni sono rilasciati con licenza Attribuzione 4.0 Internazionale (CC BY 4.0), salvo diversa indicazione.
In caso di violazione di copyright, contattare Supporto Iris

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11380/994917
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 1
  • Scopus 5
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 7
social impact