Why is the thymus examined?
The thymus gland is the central organ of the immune system, most active in early childhood. Its increase (thymomegaly) may be accompanied by frequent respiratory infections, allergic reactions, regurgitation and shortness of breath in infants. The study is prescribed by pediatricians and immunologists in case of frequent and prolonged illnesses of the child, an enlarged shadow of the mediastinum on an x-ray, or breathing problems. Ultrasound is preferable for children: it is safe, does not require anesthesia, and allows you to evaluate the size of the gland over time as many times as you like. Interpretation is carried out strictly according to age standards for the mass and volume of the thymus.
Why ultrasound is the first line method
Ultrasound does not use ionizing radiation, is fast, inexpensive, and provides images in real time. Therefore, it begins with the diagnosis of most diseases of internal organs, thyroid and mammary glands, blood vessels, joints and soft tissues.
A separate advantage is the ability to evaluate not only structure, but also movement: blood flow in the vessels, heart contractions, peristalsis, and fetal movements. Neither CT nor MRI in standard mode show this.
Ultrasound modes
- B-mode - a conventional two-dimensional gray scale image of the organ structure
- Dopplerography - assessment of the speed and direction of blood flow in the vessels
- duplex scanning - a combination of vessel imaging and blood flow analysis
- 4D - volumetric image in real time
What influences the quality of research
Ultrasound does not pass through air and does not pass well through dense bone tissue. Therefore, gases in the intestines interfere with examination of the pancreas, and the lungs and brain of an adult are inaccessible for examination. This explains the preparation requirements: diet and fasting study significantly improve visualization.
The second important factor is the doctor: ultrasound diagnostics largely depends on the experience of the specialist, since the image is assessed at the time of the examination.