LONG-TERM FOLLOW-UP OF RESIDUAL MEDIASTINAL MASSES IN TREATED HODGKINS-DISEASE USING MR-IMAGING

Purpose: Long-term follow-up of residual mediastinal masses in treated Hodgkin's disease using MR imaging. Material and Methods: Ten patient s, with substantial residual mediastinal masses of low signal intensit y (SI) in the T2-weighted image (T2WI), were reinvestigated with MR 19 -79 months after completing treatment of Hodgkin's disease. All patien ts were in complete remission. Results: During the follow-up period, t he masses had decreased in size by 0-95% (median 67%) as compared to t heir initial post-therapy size. The SI continued to be low in the T2WI and was unaffected by the degree of size reduction. Conclusion: It is speculated that these mainly fibrotic residual masses undergo slow de gradation of the fibrotic part and/or resorption of remaining inflamma tory tissue. It is important to understand the natural, long-term MR i maging changes of these residual masses in order more easily to recogn ize tumour recurrence or other pathologic conditions.