Objective: To evaluate the CT and MRI findings of thymic carcinoid and to compare these findings with previously published findings of thymoma. Methods: 11 cases of pathologically proven thymic carcinoid were reviewed retrospectively. Three patients had typical carcinoid, and eight patients had atypical carcinoid. The characteristics of the tumours and related thoracic abnormalities were assessed in each case on CT and/or MRI by two chest radiologists. The final decisions on the findings were reached by consensus. Results: Thymic carcinoids were more likely to have a large mass (ranging from 18 to 105 mm), irregular contours (n 5 8), heterogeneous intensity on T 2 weighted images (n 5 6; eight patients underwent MRI), heterogeneous enhancement (n 5 9) and local invasion (n 5 7).A necrotic or cystic component was identified in seven patients (one typical carcinoid and six atypical carcinoids). Lymphadenopathy was seen in four patients. Septum, capsule, haemorrhage and calcification were seen in three patients, two patients, two patients and one patient, respectively, with atypical carcinoid. Conclusion: Thymic carcinoids tend to have a high prevalence of large masses, irregular contours, heterogeneous intensity on T 2 weighted images, heterogeneous enhancement and local invasion on CT and/or MRI. A necrotic or cystic component is often seen in atypical carcinoid. Advances in knowledge: Radiologic features of thymic carcinoid mimic those of high-risk thymomas and/or thymic carcinomas.

Fluid-fluid levels were observed in a case of giant cavernous hemangioma on computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. The fluid-fluid level may be attributed to the separation of blood cells and serous fluid due to the extremely slow flow in cavernous hemangioma of the liver.

Extramedullary haematopoiesis (EMH), which may occur in various types of haemodyscrasia and dyshaematopoiesis, is generally seen in the spleen, liver and lymph nodes, but rarely within the cranium. This is a case of intracranial EMH in a patient with secondary myelofibrosis which developed after the treatment of polycythaemia rubra vera.

An 81-year-old Japanese womanvisited our hospital because of abdominal discomfort. Physical examination revealed that she had an abdominal mass. A combination of ultrasonography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and hepatic asialoglycoprotein scintigraphy was utilized to make a diagnosis. Wefound that she had a downward elongated hepatic lobe or Riedel's lobe which did not appear to be commonin our district. The prevalence of Riedel's lobe in the Asian population has not been studied. Furthermore, this is the first report that describes the MRIand hepatic asialoglycoprotein scintigraphy features of Riedel's lobe of the liver. (Internal Medicine 39: 136-138, 2000)

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