Radiology – Integrated Training Initiative (R-ITI) | Paediatrics | Causes of Anterior, Middle and Posterior Mediastinal Masses

Causes of Anterior, Middle and Posterior Mediastinal Masses
Session Overview
Description
This session covers imaging and diagnosis of paediatric mediastinal masses, and is organised based on their location in the mediastinum.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this session you will be able to:

• Narrow the differential diagnosis according to location of a mediastinal mass on a chest radiograph (CXR)
• Decide the next appropriate imaging modality based on location of the mass and the associated differential diagnosis
• Recognise certain imaging characteristics that pertain to both common and uncommon paediatric mediastinal masses
• Identify some of the imaging and clinical features that may indicate malignancy
• Recognise important complications of a mediastinal mass lesion such as vascular or airway compromise

Prerequisites
Before commencing this session, you should have completed the following session:

• Module 5 Paediatrics/Paediatric Mediastinum: Normal Anatomy and Appearances (300-0458)

The mediastinum in children can be a difficult area to assess on the CXR. Even the normal thymus can give the impression of a mediastinal mass lesion. The differential diagnosis of a mediastinal abnormality is deduced by determining its location within the mediastinum. Further cross-sectional imaging usually with either computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) help to characterise the lesion, define its extent and detect complications.

This session follows on from the session in Module 5 Paediatric/Mediastinum: Normal Anatomy and Appearances (300-0458). The main aim of this session is to develop an approach to imaging the child with a mediastinal mass.