Professional
Technical
IVT
thymic aplasia
Complete absence or severe underdevelopment of the thymus gland, resulting in severe T-cell immunodeficiency.
Full Definition
Thymic aplasia refers to the complete absence or severe underdevelopment of the thymus gland, a primary lymphoid organ essential for T-cell maturation. This condition results in severe combined immunodeficiency due to the lack of functional T-cells. Patients typically present with recurrent infections, failure to thrive, and increased susceptibility to opportunistic pathogens. The condition may be isolated or associated with genetic syndromes affecting thymic development.
Usage
Usage note: Distinguished from thymic hypoplasia (reduced size) and thymic dysplasia (abnormal development).
In Context
- "The infant's chest CT revealed complete thymic aplasia, consistent with the suspected immunodeficiency syndrome." — Radiology report
- "Thymic aplasia was confirmed during surgical exploration, explaining the patient's severe T-cell lymphopenia." — Operative note
Also known as
thymic agenesis
absent thymus
Contrasted with
thymic hyperplasia
Don't confuse with
thymic hypoplasia
thymic dysplasia