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Benign and Malignant Mediastinal Lesions

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Radiologic Diagnosis of Chest Disease

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Abstract

From the beginning of this century until the early 1950s, mediastinal masses were treated by radiation therapy, by clinical and radiological follow-up, and less often by surgery (1,2). Between 1950 and 1960 surgery alone became more important, not only for treatment, but also for the diagnosis of mediastinal masses (3). Many authors agreed that thoracotomy must be performed once a mediastinal mass has been diagnosed, especially because many are potentially malignant (4,5). Recently, and with the help of new radiological techniques such as ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the cause of mediastinal widening has been diagnosed with a much greater level of certainty. Needle biopsy techniques used in everyday routine diagnosis are very suitable for mediastinal lesions and are easily performed with the help of ultrasound and CT. A chest diagnostic thoracotomy is now seldom used in most institutions.

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Authors
  1. Gérard de Geer
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Bordeaux II, France

    Miriam Sperber M.D. (Professor of Radiology, Director) (Professor of Radiology, Director)

  2. Research and Development, Almed Corporation, 1050, Brussels, Belgium

    Miriam Sperber M.D. (Professor of Radiology, Director) (Professor of Radiology, Director)

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de Geer, G. (1990). Benign and Malignant Mediastinal Lesions. In: Sperber, M. (eds) Radiologic Diagnosis of Chest Disease. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-0347-3_35

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-0347-3_35

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

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  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-0347-3

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