title: Tumours involving the intrathoracic vagus and phrenic nerves demonstrated by computed tomography: anatomical features.
abstract: Four cases of mediastinal tumours involving the intrathoracic vagus and phrenic nerves are presented and their computed tomographic (CT) features are described with particular attention to the intrathoracic course of these nerves. One case of mediastinal plexiform neurofibromatosis appeared as a series of low attenuation masses along the intrathoracic course of the nerves. Three examples of neurilemmomas of the vagus nerve appeared as masses with central low attenuation; one in the retrocaval area, one to the left of the aortic arch, and one in the right paraoesophageal area. Familiarity with the CT anatomy of the vagus and phrenic nerves will greatly assist in the diagnosis of mediastinal tumours.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Soonchunhyang University Hospital, Chunan, Korea.
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Im
authors.forename: I Y
authors.initials: IY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: P N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003390:Cranial Nerve Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010524:Peripheral Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010791:Phrenic Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*