الفهرس 
Anatomy of the mediastinumOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
A large percentage of mediastinal cysts produce no symptoms and are found incidentally during a chest radiograph or other imaging study of the thorax performed for some other reason. Symptoms are present in approximately one third of adult patients with a mediastinal cyst but are more commonly observed in the pediatric population, in which nearly two thirds of individuals present with some symptoms. Symptoms associated with the respiratory tract predominate in pediatric patients because airway compression is more likely. This occurs because of the significant malleability of the airway structures and the small size of the chest cavity in infants and children. Symptoms most commonly observed include persistent cough, dyspnea, and stridor. If the location and size of the cyst produces partial or complete obstruction, obstructive pneumonia can also occur. Infectious symptomatology, and even signs of sepsis, can occur if a mediastinal cyst becomes infected. In this essay we reviewed all types of mediastinal cysts. We emphasized the normal radiological anatomy of the mediastinum including CT & MRI anatomy, and the pathology of mediastinal cysts including there classification, location and incidence. We focused on the imaging features of mediastinal cysts & cyst-like lesions with some case presentations. We tried to differentiate between cysts & cyst-like lesions of the mediastinum depending on there location & the characteristic imaging features of each. Early recognition of these relatively rare lesions would lead to immediate and appropriate surgical intervention. Early surgical intervention is also important, because a definitive histologic diagnosis can only be established by means of surgical extirpation. A variety of mediastinal masses contain cystic areas and have variable prognoses. They include bronchogenic cysts, esophageal duplication cysts, neurenteric cysts, meningocele, pericardial cysts, thymic cysts, cystic teratoma, and lymphangioma. Although these masses have similar imaging appearances; clinical history, anatomic position, and certain details seen at CT or MR imaging allow correct diagnosis in many cases. Familiarity with the radiological features of these lesions facilitates accurate diagnosis, differentiation from other cyst-like lesions, and thus, optimal patient treatment.