Widened mediastinum: Difference between revisions

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**AP projection (Mediastinal structures further away from imaging plate)
**AP projection (Mediastinal structures further away from imaging plate)
**Thoracic aortic aneurysm
**Thoracic aortic aneurysm
**Aortic dissection/rupture
**[[Aortic dissection]]/rupture
**Mediastinal mass
**Mediastinal mass


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**Descending aortic aneurysm
**Descending aortic aneurysm
**Paraspinal abscess
**Paraspinal abscess
==Imaging==
[[File:Dissection CXR.jpg|thumbnail|CXR showing widened mediastinum and porminent aortic knob in [[nontraumatic thoracic aortic dissection]]]]
[[File:PMC4040866 rju05301.png|thumb|Blunt [[Traumatic aortic transection|thoracic aortic injury]] on CXR showing widened mediastinum]]


==See Also==
==See Also==

Latest revision as of 15:28, 14 October 2019

Background

  • Diagnosed on plain radiography of the chest
  • Mediastinal width >8cm is abnormal
  • Potential causes include:
    • AP projection (Mediastinal structures further away from imaging plate)
    • Thoracic aortic aneurysm
    • Aortic dissection/rupture
    • Mediastinal mass

Anatomy

  • Mediastinum is divided into superior and inferior compartments, the latter further subdivided into anterior, middle and posterior compartments.[1]
Anatomy and contents of the mediastinum[2]

Mediastinal Masses

  • Anterior
    • Retrosternal goiter
    • Thymoma
    • Germ-cell tumor
    • Lymphadenopathy (lymphoma)
  • Middle
    • Aortic arch aneurysm
    • Dilated pulmonary artery
    • Tracheal lesion
  • Posterior
    • Esophageal lesions
    • Hiatal hernia
    • Descending aortic aneurysm
    • Paraspinal abscess

Imaging

CXR showing widened mediastinum and porminent aortic knob in nontraumatic thoracic aortic dissection
Blunt thoracic aortic injury on CXR showing widened mediastinum

See Also

External Links

References

  1. Whitten CR, Khan S, Munneke GJ, Grubnic S. A diagnostic approach to mediastinal abnormalities. Radiographics. 2007;27(3):657–671. doi:10.1148/rg.273065136.
  2. Faiz, O., & Moffat, D. (2002). Anatomy at a glance. Malden, MA: Blackwell Science.