DIAGNOSTIC-APPROACH TO MEDIASTINAL MASSES

Mediastinal masses represent a vast group of tumours and pseudo-tumour s which can involve the various compartments of the mediastinum. The a uthors propose a radiologic diagnostic approach starting from the plai n thoracic radiograph with study of the mediastinal lines and oesophag eal transit and going on to the classifications made possible by moder n CT and MR imaging. The proposed diagnostic procedure is based on nin e mediastinal lines and two 'threads of Ariadne' which are the compart ments where the masses are located and their behaviour at CT (densitom etry before and after administration of an iodinated bolus) and at MRI (T-1, T-2, gadolinium-enhanced T-1-weighted sequences). The definitiv e aetiological diagnosis may be established by surgery, but also in ce rtain cases by percutaneous needle biopsy. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science I reland Ltd. All rights reserved.