Summary
Fifty-three patients were investigated by 75Se methionine scan in order to evaluate the role of the thymus gland in myasthenia gravis. The thymus of 28 of the above patients was examined histologically. Five out of six thymomas were detected with this technique and eight out of twelve hyperplasias were revealed. The above data suggests that 75Se methionine scan is a useful, innocuous tool for diagnosing neoplasms and abnormal germinal centers in thymus glands.
Zusammenfassung
53 Patienten wurden mit einem 75Se-Methionin-Scan untersucht, um die Rolle der Thymusdrüse bei der Myasthenia Gravis zu beurteilen. Die Thymusdrüsen von 28 dieser Patienten wurden histologisch untersucht. Fünf von sechs primären Thymustumoren konnten mit dieser Technik nachgewiesen werden, und 8 von 12 Hyperplasien wurden festgestellt. Die oben genannten Daten sprechen dafür, daß 75Se-Methionin-Scan eine nützliche, nicht schädliche Untersuchung ist, um Neoplasien und abnorme Keimzentren zu diagnostizieren.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abdou, N. I., Lisak, P. R., Zweiman, B., Abrahamsohn, I., Penn, A. S.: The thymus in myasthenia gravis. New Engl. J. Med. 291, 1271–1275 (1974)
Adornato, B. T., Blei, C. L., Engel, W. K., Kirkpatrik, C. H.: 67Gallium citrate (67Ga) scanning of the thymus in myasthenia gravis (M.G.). Neurology (Minneap.) 28, 382 (1978)
Buckingham, J. M., Howard, F. M. Jr., Bernatz, P. E., Payne, W. S., Harrison, E. G. Jr., O'Brien, P. C., Weiland, L. H.: The value of thymectomy in myasthenia gravis: A computer assisted matched study. Ann. Surg. 184, 453–457 (1976)
Castleman, B.: The pathology of the thymus gland in myasthenia gravis. Am. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 135, 496–503 (1966)
Castleman, B., Norris, E. H.: The pathology of the thymus in myasthenia gravis. A study of 35 cases. Medicine (Baltimore) 28, 27–58 (1949)
Cowan, R. J., Maynard, C. D., Witcofski, R. L., Janesway, R., Toole, J. F.: Selenomethionine Se75 thymus scans in myasthenia gravis. J. Am. Med. Assoc. 215, 978–979 (1971)
Edward, C. L., Hayes, R. L.: Tumor scanning with 67Ga-citrate. J. Nucl. Med. 10, 103–105 (1969)
Keesey, J., Bein, M., Mink, J., Mulder, D., Herrmann, C.: Chest radiography, tomography and computed tomography for the detection of thymoma in myasthenia gravis. Neurology (Minneap.) 28, 371 (1978)
Mackay, I. R., Whittingham, S., Goldstein, G., Currie, T. T., Hare, W. S. C.: Myasthenia gravis, clinical, serological and histological studies in relation to thymectomy. Australas. Ann. Med. 17, 1–11 (1968)
Maggi, G., Casadio, C.: La timectomia nella cura della “miastenia gravis”. Acta neurol. (Naples) 6, 657–678 (1976)
McQuillen, M. P., Leone, M. G.: A treatment carol: thymectomy revisited. Neurology (Minneap.) 27, 1103–1105 (1977)
Min, K. W., Waddell, C. C., Pircher, F. J., Granville, G. E., Gyorkey, F.: Selective uptake of 75Se-Selenomethionine by thymoma with pure red cell aplasia. Cancer 41, 1323–1328 (1978)
Mulder, D. G., Herrmann, C., Buckberg, G. D.: Effect of thymectomy in patients with myasthenia gravis. Am. J. Surg. 128, 202–206 (1974)
Mumenthaler, M., Lutshig, J.: Pseudoparalytic myasthenia gravis. Diagnostic and therapeutic aspects in 60 separate cases. Schweiz Arch. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. 118, 23–52 (1976)
Nouel, J. P., Reinault, H., Robert, J., Jeanne, C., Wicart, C.: La bleomycine marquée au Co 57. Interêt dans le diagnostic des tumeurs malignes et leur extensions. Nouv. Presse Med. 1, 95–98 (1972)
Osserman, K. E., Gerkins, G.: Studies in myasthenia gravis: a review of twenty years experience in over 1200 patients. Mt. Sinai J. Med. N.Y. 38, 497–537 (1971)
Papatestas, A. E., Gerkins, G., Kornfeld, P., Horowitz, S. H., Kark, A. E.: Transcervical thymectomy in myasthenia gravis. Surg. Gynecol. Obstet. 140, 535–540 (1975)
Papatestas, A. E., Gerkins, G., Horowitz, S. H., Kornfeld, P.: Thymectomy in myasthenia gravis: pathologic, clinical and electrophysiologic correlation. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 274, 555–573 (1976)
Papatestas, A. E., Gerkins, G., Kornfeld, P., Horowitz, S. H., Slater, G.: Thymectomy for myasthenia gravis. New Engl. J. Med. 298, 1028 (1978)
Perlo, V. P., Arnason, B., Poskanzer, D., Castleman, B., Schwab, R. S., Osserman, K. E., Papatestas, A., Alpert, L., Kark, A. E.: The role of thymectomy in the treatment of myasthenia gravis. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 183, 308–315 (1971)
Reinglass, J. L., Brickel, A. C. J.: The prognostic significance of thymic germinal center proliferation in myasthenia gravis. Neurology (Minneap.) 23, 69–72 (1973)
Remy, J. Beguery, P., Tonnell, A. B., Petit, H., Voisin, C.: Apport de la phlebographie thimique selective a la croissance de la pathologic du thymus. J. Belge. Radiol. 55, 453–462 (1972)
Seybold, M. E., Howard, F. M. Jr., Duane, D. D., Payne, W. S., Harrison, E. G.: Thymectomy in juvenile myasthenia gravis. Arch. Neurol. 25, 385–392 (1971)
Simpson, J. N.: An evaluation of thymectomy in myasthenia gravis. Brain 81, 112–144 (1958)
Simpson, J. N.: Myasthenia gravis: a personal view of pathogenesis and mechanism. Part I. Muscle and Nerve 1, 45–56 (1978)
Swick, H. M., Preston, D. F., McQuillen, P.: Gallium scans in myasthenia gravis. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 274, 536–554 (1976)
Toole, J. F., Witcofski, R.: Selenomethionine-Se75 scan for thymoma. J. Am. Med. Assoc. 198, 1219–1220 (1966)
Vetters, J. M., Simpson, J. N.: Comparison on thymic histology with response to thymectomy in myasthenia gravis. J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiat. 37, 1139–1145 (1974)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Testa, G.F., Angelini, C. Assessment of the value of thymic scan in myasthenia gravis. J. Neurol. 220, 21–29 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00313145
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00313145