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 | ||
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