Mediastinal masses

Abstract

The wide variety of tissues within the mediastinum is reflected in the many forms of neoplastic, developmental and inflammatory masses that can be seen as a localized mass in the mediastinum. This review will emphasize the imaging and pathological features of primary tumours and cysts of the mediastinum. Metastases, most often associated with primary bronchogenic carcinoma, and vascular lesions, particularly aortic aneurysms, are also common but not usually considered in reviews of mediastinal masses and therefore not within of the scope of this chapter. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2005.