title: CT diagnosis of mediastinal thyroid.
abstract: Computed tomography (CT) is capable of specifically diagnosing mediastinal thyroid as the cause of a mediastinal mass. Five representative cases illustrate characteristic features of substernal thyroid. These include: (1) anatomic continuity with the cervical thyroid; (2) focal calcifications; (3) relatively high CT number; (4) rise in CT number after bolus administration of iodinated urographic contrast material; and (5) prolonged enhancement after contrast administration. While not all of these features are present in each case, a combination of these should permit accurate diagnosis in most cases.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008482:Mediastinum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000002:abnormalities*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed