Abstract

RABASSA PEREZ, Jesús et al. Sonographic evaluation of the thymus in sound children: Preliminary study. Rev Cubana Pediatr [online]. 2004, vol.76, n.3. ISSN 0034-7531.

Even though thymus echography has already been successfully used in Cuba, the values of the thymus dimensions in sound children have not been published. That's why, a total of 122 children of both sexes from the health area of Arroyo Naranjo municipality with no evident sign from the first months of age until the age of 6 that were nutritionally evaluated as eutrophic were studied. The area of the longitudinal ecographic section of both thymic lobes was calculated. Patients were divided into 6 groups. It was observed an increase of the depth measure and of the gland volume with age. The average total thymic area was of 1 218 ± 207.4 mm2 and the total volume was 25 273 m3. The technique used was reproducible, easy and economic. The values of the thymic dimensions obtained that were obtained allow the application of this test in other pediatric centers of the country for the initial screening of the immune system's integrity and in the evolutive follow-up after using immunotherapy.

Keywords : Thymus; ultrasonography.