Page Contents
OVERVIEW
This page is dedicated to covering the important radiological finding of a middle mediastinal mass. Look here for more radiological findings.
WHAT IS IT?
A middle mediastinal mass refers to a finding typically appreciated on a Chest X-Ray. The middle mediastinum is the compartment of the body that extends from the anterior border of the heart and aorta to the posterior border of the heart. It contains the heart, the origins of the great vessels, trachea, and main bronchi, along with lymph nodes
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS FOR THIS FINDING
When seeing a middle mediastinal mass, it is important to keep in mind the following possible causes of this finding:
Lymphadenopathy caused by:
- Hodgkin lymphoma
- Small cell lung carcinoma
- Metastatic malignancy (such as from breast cancer)
- Infectious mononucleosis
- Tuberculosis
KEY FEATURES TO LOOK FOR WHEN CHARACTERIZING THE FINDING
When seeing a middle mediastinal mass, there are a few important radiological features one should look at to try and characterize the finding. These features can help navigate the differential diagnosis above.
Page Updated: 01.09.2017