title: Mediastinal masses: magnetic resonance imaging in comparison with computed tomography.
abstract: Seventy-eight patients with mediastinal abnormalities were imaged with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to evaluate mediastinal masses and associated lung, pleural, or chest wall disease. Magnetic resonance images were compared with computed tomography (CT) scans, which were available in 45 patients. While MRI and CT were equally effective in demonstrating mediastinal lesions, CT was superior for displaying calcification within a mass in eight patients and for demonstrating associated lung abnormality in four patients. Computed tomography should remain the imaging procedure of choice after chest radiography to evaluate mediastinal masses, although MRI may be indicated in selected patients.
authors.affiliation: UCLA Medical Center, Department of Radiological Sciences 90024-1721.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Batra
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Holmes
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Steckel
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Shapiro
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008477:Mediastinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed