Objective To describe the CT manifestations of thymic epithelial tumor and explore the correlation between CT findings and post-operative tumor-related survival time. Methods Ninety-one patients who underwent CT scan before operation were reviewed retrospectively. All cases had operation and were classified according to the WHO classification. The size, contour, shape, density and enhancement of the tumors on CT were assessed. Presence of mediastinal lymphadenopathy, great vessel invasion, metastasis to the lung or plural, myasthenia gravis (MG) were also analyzed. The survival rate was obtained using the Kaplan-Meier method. The Cox model was applied to determine the factors affecting the tumor-related survivals. Chi square test was used to analyze the relationship between CT findings and WHO classification. Results Two patients were excluded because of dying of myocardial infarction and colon cancer. The total 5-year survival rate was 84.3%(n=75). Eighty-nine patients had total 91 tumors. Tumors with diameter larger than 5 cm, lobular contour, heterogenous density, and presence of great vessel invasion, mediastinal lymphadenopathy, and metastasis were adverse factors which could significantly affect the survival time. Five-year survival rates of these factors were 72.7%, 77.3%, 76.7%, 73.8%, 30.0%, and 68.8%, respectively. Presence of MG was a favorable factor which also significantly affected the survival time (P＜0.05). While the shape and enhancement of the tumors and the age, gender of the patients did not significantly affect the survival time (P＞0.05). The result of the Cox multivariate analysis was consistent with that of the Log-rank test. For different WHO classification, there were significant different among the size or contour of the tumors, presence of great vessel invasion, mediastinal lymphadenopathy, and metastasis (x2 value were 6.598, 5.737, 18.307, 8.465, and 15.608, respectively P＜0.05). Conclusions CT findings may be served as predictors of clinical prognosis of the thymic epithelial tumors. Adverse factors for survival time are the size of the tumors and presence of mediastinal lymphadenopathy, while MG is a favorable factor for survival time.

Objective To investigate CT characteristics of ganglioneuroma.Methods CT findings in 12 patients with ganglioneuroma proved histopathologically were retrospectively analyzed.Results The lesions localized in the adrenal gland in 8,the retroperitoneum in 3,the posterior mediastinum in 1.eleven lesions appeared as homogeneous hypo-or isodense oval masses with well delineated margins and 1 was cysto-solid on plain CT scans.The calcifications were seen inside one tumor.On enhanced CT scans,the lesions were mild enhancement in 4,moderate enhancement in 3,significant enhancement in 3 and no enhancement in 2.Mild delayed enhancement in 5 cases,moderate delayed enhancement in 4 cases and no delayed enhancement in 3 cases were showed.Conclusion Typical ganglioneuroma shows low intensity,mild or moderate enhancement and delayed enhancement.

ObjectiveTo investigate the CT findings of thymic epithelial tumors (TETs).Methods The CT images of 133 cases with TETs confirmed pathologically were reviewed retrospectively.The TETs were reclassified according to WHO 2004 Classification System.The CT features of different histopathological types of TETs were analyzed.The frequencies of demonstrating these CT features were compared between different types using Chi-square exact test.ResultsType A(9/10,90.0％),AB(15/17,88.2％),B1 (10/13,76.9％ ),and B2( 31/46,67.4％ ) tumors were more likely to have spherical or oval shapes and smooth contours on CT.TETs with irregular or lobular contours were mostly seen in type B3 (21/30,70.0％ )and thymic carcinoma (15/17,88.2％ ).TETs with cyst and necrosis formation were common in type A(6/10,60％ ),B3 ( 19/30,63.3％ ) and thymic carcinoma ( 15/17,88.2％ ).Calcification was more frequently seen in type B2 and B3 (32/76,42.1％ ) than any other type ofTETs (8/57,14.0％ ;x2 =12.20,P ＜ 0.01 ).Type A,AB,B3 and thymic carcinoma had higher prevalence of significant enhancement (39/74,52.7％) than type B1 and B2 (8/57,13.6％;x2=22.01,P＜0.01).ConclusionAccording to WHO 2004 histologic classification system,different types of TET have corresponding CT features.CT has showed the potentiality in differentiating histological subtypes of TETs.

Objective: The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of childhood abuse and examined its correlation with inflammatory factor IL-6 level in middle schools students. Methods: A total of 911 junior and high school students from a middle school in Shenyang were enrolled in this study to investigate the experience of childhood abuse and its association with IL-6 level in fasting blood samples in December 2017. Results: The prevalence of childhood maltreatment was 21.0%, the prevalence of physical, emotional and sexual abuse was 21.8%, 20.3% and 9.5%, respectively. Physical abuse, emotional abuse and total abuse were associated with high levels of IL-6 in junior high school boys, χ2 values were 3.88, 6.78, and 9.10, respectively (P<0.05). There was no significant correlation between abuse experiences with IL-6 levels among junior high school girls and senior high school students. Regression analysis showed that physical abuse, emotional abuse and total abuse were positively associated with IL-6 concentration among junior high school boys(OR=2.23, 3.49, 1.58, P<0.05). Conclusion Physical and emotional abuse in childhood associates with the increase of IL-6 level among junior school boys. Abnormal inflammatory factor level might be potential mechanism linking childhood abuse with adverse health outcomes.