CT and MR findings in tuberculous mediastinitis.
OBJECTIVE
Tuberculous mediastinitis, a rare complication of pulmonary tuberculosis, may simulate a mediastinal tumor on chest radiography. For evaluation and follow-up of the disease, CT and MRI are needed.


METHODS
Two cases of tuberculous mediastinitis are presented with emphasis on the importance of MRI. In both cases, MRI was performed because the CT appearance was unusual for a mediastinal tumor.


RESULTS
The areas of low signal intensity within the anterior mediastinal mass on both T1- and T2-weighted imaging were due to the reactive fibrous tissue and were suggestive of an inflammatory mass.


CONCLUSIONS
When a mediastinal mass would be unusual on CT, MRI should be performed. If there are areas of low signal intensity within the mass on both T1- and T2-weighted imaging, an inflammatory mass such as tuberculous mediastinitis, is one of the possibilities.
Kushihashi
T
T
Department of Radiology, Showa University, School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Munechika
H
H
Motoya
H
H
Hamada
K
K
Satoh
I
I
Naitoh
H
H
Nakajima
H
H
Soejima
K
K
D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008480:Mediastinitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*