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MEDIASTINAL MASS / WIDENED MEDIASTINUM ON CXR |
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lymph nodes (usually in middle and superior mediastinum): |
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tuberculosis sarcoidosis metastases lymphomas / leukaemias |
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thymus (anterior mediastinum): |
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thymoma (benign / malignant)thymic cyst |
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thyroid (anterior mediastinum): |
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tumours retrosternal goitre |
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cardiovascular: |
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aneurysms: |
aortic arch innominate artery cardiac carotids (at origin) |
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cardiac tumours pericardial fat pad (anterior mediastinum) |
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oesophageal (posterior mediastinum): |
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tumours hiatus hernia achalasia abscess (following perforation) |
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developmental abnormalities: |
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enterogenous cyst (posterior mediastinum)anterior thoracic meningocoele (posterior mediastinum)bronchogenic cyst (middle mediastinum) |
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other tumours: |
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teratoma (anterior mediastinum): |
benign (dermoid cyst)malignant |
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posterior mediastinum: |
neurofibroma ('dumb-bell' tumour)neuroblastoma / ganglioneuroma |
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other causes: |
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scoliosis pleuro-pericardial cyst (anterior mediastinum)any lung mass close to mediastinum diaphragmatic hernia sternal tumours mediastinal haemorrhage pneumomediastinum |
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paravertebral masses (posterior mediastinum): |
abscess myeloma metastases lymphoma |
NB: anterior mediastinum is usually empty; commonest masses here are:
retrosternal goitre
thymoma
lymph nodes
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