| Abstract: | Sixteen years of observation over a large group of children with the syndrome of the enlarged thymus with the use of up-to-date methods of examining the CNS, immune, endocrine, neuroendocrine systems and the autopsy data allowed the heterogeneity and polymorphism of the given syndrome to be revealed. Both transitory and stable enlargement of the thymus may be observed. The syndrome of the stable-enlarged thymus is likely to be formed in the intrauterine period and postnatally as well. It may be associated and not associated with thymus-dependent immunodeficiency. The morphological investigation of the thymus may show an enlargement of the cortical area with enhanced T lymphocyte proliferation in it or formation of lymphoid follicles. In clinical practice, the syndrome of the stable-enlarged thymus should be differentiated with thymic tumor. The working classification of the syndrome and concept of the pathogenesis of the stable-enlarged thymus are offered. |
