Widened mediastinum
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]
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