OBJECTIVETo investigate the CT manifestations of thymic carcinoid and assess the diagnostic value of CT for this disease.

METHODSCT and clinical findings of 5 patients (4 males and 1 female, average age 41 years) with histologically confirmed thymic carcinoid were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSThe clinical findings of the 5 patients showed no specificity, and none of the patients presented with carcinoid syndrome. The tumors were relatively large (mean size on the largest planar of 11.7 cm x 7.6 cm) with heterogeneous density, and showed necrosis or cystic degeneration in the tumor. The lesions showed uneven enhancement in contrast-enhanced imaging and displayed linear enhancement of the blood vessels in the tumors in 3 cases with unclear tumor margins. The adjacent major vessels were displayed in 4 cases (the superior vena cava in 2 and brachiocephalic vein in 4 cases), and 5 showed mediastinal and/or root of the neck lymphatic metastasis. None of the cases have lung or other site metastasis.

CONCLUSIONThe CT findings of the thymic carcinoid have some characteristics, and can be helpful in the diagnosis.