title: High-attenuation mediastinal masses on unenhanced CT.
abstract: On unenhanced CT scans, a variety of mediastinal masses contain areas with attenuation values higher than the attenuation value of the chest wall musculature. The increased attenuation may be diffuse or focal and may be a result of calcium deposition, high iodine content, or areas of acute hemorrhage. This report illustrates the gamut of high-attenuation mediastinal masses seen on unenhanced CT. Masses that are of high attenuation only on IV contrast-enhanced images (e.g., aberrant vessels) are not included.
authors.affiliation: Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110.
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Glazer
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Molina
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Siegel
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Sagel
mesh_terms: D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006045:Goiter, Substernal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008476:Mediastinal Cyst / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008477:Mediastinal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000556:secondary; D010690:Phlebography; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed