In a patient with newly diagnosed myasthenia gravis, which imaging study is most appropriate to assess thymic pathology?

• A. Chest CT
• B. Brain MRI
• C. Abdominal CT
• D. Chest X-ray

Answer: (A)

MG often involves the thymus, with thymic hyperplasia or thymoma influencing treatment decisions. A chest CT provides detailed cross-sectional imaging of the mediastinum, allowing reliable detection and characterization of thymic abnormalities and guiding management such as thymectomy. It is more sensitive than a chest X-ray for identifying thymic pathology. Brain MRI and abdominal CT do not assess the thymus, so they aren’t appropriate for this purpose. Chest X-ray can miss thymic changes, especially smaller masses or hyperplasia.