Widened mediastinum: Difference between revisions
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==Background== | ==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== | ==Anatomy== | ||
*Mediastinum is divided into superior and inferior compartments, the latter further subdivided into anterior, middle and posterior compartments.<ref>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.</ref> | |||
[[File:Mediastinum Anatomy.png|thumb|Anatomy and contents of the mediastinum<ref>Faiz, O., & Moffat, D. (2002). Anatomy at a glance. Malden, MA: Blackwell Science.</ref>]] | [[File:Mediastinum Anatomy.png|thumb|Anatomy and contents of the mediastinum<ref>Faiz, O., & Moffat, D. (2002). Anatomy at a glance. Malden, MA: Blackwell Science.</ref>]] | ||
==Mediastinal Masses== | ==Mediastinal Masses== | ||
Revision as of 19:31, 7 July 2017
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