Does anyone know about Thymic Hyperplasia?

Question

It is a very rare disease and it's hard to find information out there about it. I was wondering if anyone has heard of it, or experienced it or know someone who has.

Answer 1

Im an EMT going into pre-med heres some info i know...
Hyperplasia is an increase in the volume of the thymus gland by formation of new cellular elements in a normal microscopic arrangement. Two morphological types exist—true hyperplasia and lymphofollicular hyperplasia. True hyperplasia is characterized by an increase in both size and weight of the thymus. Thymic hyperplasia is a very rare pathology that presents clinically or radiologically as mediastinal mass.

Three clinicopathological subtypes are identified as follows:

Massive thymic hyperplasia

This is a rare pathological finding with only a few well-documented cases. Enlargement of the thymus, however, is common in infancy.

The cause is unknown; it may be due to thymic hyperfunction or dysfunction related to the endocrine activity of the gland.

Patients usually present with symptoms of irritation of the mediastinal structures; symptoms may range from none to respiratory distress.

Thymic rebound in childhood and adolescence

This is described in a number of conditions, such as recovery from severe thermal burns, cardiac surgery, tuberculosis, following treatment for different malignancies, and after discontinuation of oral steroids.

The functionally active thymus in childhood and adolescence may be susceptible to the fluctuation in corticosteroids levels, which is thought to be a causative factor in thymic hyperplasia (reversal of elevated endogenous corticosteroids in severe burns, withdrawal of exogenous corticosteroids in malignancy treatment).

Patient age ranges from 2-12 years. All reported cases were detected on routine chest radiograph with no other clinical or laboratory positive finding.

After malignancy, thymic hyperplasia could be confused radiologically with recurrence or metastasis.

Others: Thymic hyperplasia has been reported in association with sarcoidosis and endocrine abnormalities (thyrotoxicosis, hypothyroidism, Addison disease, acromegaly).

THE LABS WORKUP

Leukocytosis, lymphocytosis, and hypogammaglobulinemia were reported, but blood test results may be completely normal.

Chest radiograph shows widening of the mediastinum; CT scan shows the enlarged thymus.
Management

MANAGEMENT

A child with a newly-recognized anterior mediastinal mass could be observed carefully if he or she is thriving and most of the alternative diagnosis possibilities have been ruled out by appropriate clinical and laboratory examinations.

A brief course of steroids could be attempted if a corticosteroid-sensitive tumor could be ruled out. Steroids often shrink a hyperplastic thymus.

If the steroid test is inconclusive or if hyperplasia persists for more than 2 years, a diagnostic mediastinoscopy is necessary. In case of symptomatic or calcified mass, complete resection is needed to make the diagnosis and to rule out malignancy.

Answer 2

Thymus Hyperplasia

Answer 3

Thymic Hyperplasia

Answer 4

Blood tests for TSH and FT4 along with physical examination and symptom evaluation.