High Resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT) Findings in Seven Young Patients Affected by COVID-19 Disease: Can the Persistence of a Thymic Gland Provide a Defensive Influence?

Abstract

COVID-19 pneumonia is a highly contagious viral pneumonia spread worldwide, caused by SARS-CoV-2. Adults may be more susceptible to disease, especially in those with comorbidities while young people show milder signs of the disease. Between January 1st and February 28th 2021, seven consecutive patients, ranging from 26 to 41 years, were admitted to our hospital with a diagnosis of COVID disease confirmed by a RT-PCR swab test. On HRCT, a Severity Index Score was performed to estimate pulmonary involvement. Focusing our attention on anterior mediastinum, we found that five of the seven cases enrolled had thymic gland. Two patients had not thymic gland. In our preliminary experience, five patients who had thymic gland showed a mild or negative clinical and radiological COVID-19 pneumonia. Instead, two patients who experienced severe COVID-19 pneumonia did not show the thymic gland. Further studies carried out prospectively are needed in order to exceed the limitations of this study and to ascertain the relationship between the persistence of the thymic gland as a protective factor against severe forms of COVID-19 pneumonia.