Question 1

could thymus gland regrow?

Accepted Answer

Not exactly: The thymus starts out fairly large in childhood. As one ages it slowly shrinks, until it is almost completely gone by adulthood. Even without a thymus, the adult immune system (of which the gland is a part) work normally. It does not normally grow back, but there are certain conditions (e.g., myasthenia gravis) where a tumor of the thymus (thymoma) may occur; these are usually treated surgically.

Question 2

how is your thymus checked? if you have normal thyroid is that connected to thymus?

Accepted Answer

No relationship: The thymus helps fight infection. If you do not have one of the rare genetic diseases like di georgi's syndrome there is no reason to check the thymus.

Question 3

i have a mass on my thymus. is this definitely thyoma?

Accepted Answer

Nothing is: "definite" without a tissue sample (biopsy) Follow your PCP's plan to evaluate!

Hope this helps
DrZ

Question 4

what could cause an atrophic spleen and enlarged thymus?

Accepted Answer

Many, maybe related: Spleen can be small either because it never grew (as baby/child) or because it was injured and became scarred. If problem started young enough, thymus can take over some of the spleen's work to compensate (so becomes bigger). Spleen filters old/damaged blood cells and helps produce new ones, filters out certain infections and has other immune functions; thymus is an important part of immune system.

Question 5

is there any possibility for my cancer to spread beyond the thymus?

Accepted Answer

Yes: It depends on grade but there is the chance of nodal or systemic spread in higher grade malignant tumors of the thymus.

Question 6

what are foods that are good for the thymus gland and nervous system?

Accepted Answer

Nutrient dense foods: Eat foods that are nutrient dense (like meat, fish, poultry, eggs, cheese, low starch vegatables and water) avoid foods that are not nutrient dense (like starches and sugars, including fruit)
nutrient dense foods have beneficial effects on your nervous system, immune system and hormonal system and hence your thymus gland as well.

Question 7

could you tell me what are food good for the thymus gland and nervous system?

Accepted Answer

Not certain: Eating fish is supposed to be good for the brain.  I know of no food which nourishes your thymus, not even sweet bread.

Question 8

can you tell me how dendritic cells present their acquired antigens to t-cells in the thymus?

Accepted Answer

Surface factors: DCs process and present antigen to activate both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells.  Only DCs are capable of activating naïve T cells. Immature DCs lay dormant waiting to interact with  foreign antigen. Once the antigen is captured,  it is processed either by  exogenous,  endosomal or a proteosomal pathway. Antigen is taken up by phagocytosis or receptor mediated endocytosis into the cytosol. The antigen is  further degraded in the cytosol via proteosome and enters the endoplasmic reticulum where peptides bind to newly synthesized MHC class I molecules for presentation on the cell surface. Here costimulatory molecules including members of the B7 family,and  TNF family are present  which are critical to the activation of T cells.

Question 9

i had mri of the thymus as it was inlarged! how long should it take to know what's wrong , was to see on 29th  put back to 19th of feb now!

Accepted Answer

The thymus is : A gland that helps develop the immune system during early life.  It usually atrophies in adulthood, with little to no residual thymic tissue seen on imaging.  In some medical conditions (including ra), the thymus can enlarge.  This is called thymic hyperplasia.  The MRI would potentially be able to distinguish between this condition and something more serious.

Question 10

what is thymus cancer from?

Accepted Answer

Immune system: The thymus is an immune organ, that lives in the chest.  It is most active in childhood.  No one knows what causes the cancer, but it omes in many different types, which often resemble cancers from other areas of the body, such as squamous cell cancer, lymphoma, etc.  One type of the thymic cancer, which is a malignant thymoma, is related to the muscle disease myasthenia gravis.

Get Virtual Care

For Businesses

About Us

HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients

Doctor answers about:

Bovine thymus cytosol

A member asked:

Could thymus gland regrow?

A member asked:

How is your thymus checked? if you have normal thyroid is that connected to thymus?

A member asked:

I have a mass on my thymus. is this definitely thyoma?

A member asked:

What could cause an atrophic spleen and enlarged thymus?

A member asked:

Is there any possibility for my cancer to spread beyond the thymus?

A member asked:

What are foods that are good for the thymus gland and nervous system?

A member asked:

Could you tell me what are food good for the thymus gland and nervous system?

A member asked:

Can you tell me how dendritic cells present their acquired antigens to t-cells in the thymus?

A member asked:

I had mri of the thymus as it was inlarged! how long should it take to know what's wrong , was to see on 29th put back to 19th of feb now!

A member asked:

What is thymus cancer from?

HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients

Telemedicine

Primary Care

Manage Your Conditions

Women's Health

Children's Health

Men's Health

Senior Health

Wellness, Prevention & Lifestyle

Sexual Health

Mental & Behavioral Health

Travel Medicine

Urgent Care

Didn't find what you're looking for?

More of what we treat

Allergies

Antibiotics

Asthma

High Blood Pressure

Prescriptions

Type 2 Diabetes

For Businesses

Company

Health Content

Join Us

Download HealthTap

Questions?