The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 31, 167-170, Copyright © 1981 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Misleading density of mediastinal cysts on computerized tomography
MA Marvasti, GE Mitchell, WA Burke and JA Meyer
Five patients seen with roentgenographic evidence of smooth, rounded
mediastinal masses were evaluated by computerized tomographic (CT)
scanning. Density readings from the lesion were interpreted in all patients
as being equivalent to solid tissue. With these findings, thoracotomy
seemed necessary for definitive diagnosis. All 5 lesions were found to be
thin-walled cystic structures containing thick viscid fluid. Contrary to
views expressed in the radiology literature, we conclude that computerized
tomography does not differentiate reliably between solid and cystic
mediastinal masses.