Imaging of anterior mediastinal masses

Abstract

Imaging of anterior mediastinal masses - Cancer Imaging Imaging of anterior mediastinal masses - Multiple different types of anterior mediastinal masses may be encountered on computed tomography (CT) imaging, and many of these lesions are neoplastic in etiology. These include masses arising from the thymus, thyroid and parathyroid glands, as well as lymph nodes, pericardium, and vessels and nerves. Often, the CT attenuation of the mass can be helpful in narrowing down the differential diagnosis, and attenuation values suggesting fat, water or calcium may suggest certain diagnoses; significant enhancement of the mass with intravenous contrast may also be a helpful feature.