Mediastinal hemangioma: radiographic and CT features in 14 patients.
OBJECTIVE
To characterize the imaging features of mediastinal hemangioma.


METHODS
The authors retrospectively reviewed chest radiographs and computed tomographic (CT) scans from 14 patients with mediastinal hemangioma.


RESULTS
Most mediastinal hemangiomas manifested as well-marginated masses at CT. Three masses had punctate calcifications, and one had phleboliths. Five masses were of heterogeneous attenuation at unenhanced CT. Ten of 11 (91%) hemangiomas were of heterogeneous attenuation at contrast material-enhanced CT, and the following four patterns were observed: central (n = 6, 60%), mixed central and peripheral (n = 2, 20%), peripheral (n = 1, 10%), and nonspecific (n = 1, 10%) increased attenuation. Central increased attenuation was observed more frequently after administration of a bolus of contrast material than after slow infusion.


CONCLUSIONS
Hemangiomas should be considered in the differential diagnosis of well-marginated mediastinal masses that have heterogeneous attenuation on CT scans, show central enhancement after administration of contrast material or contain punctate calcification.
McAdams
H P
HP
Department of Radiology, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC.
Rosado-de-Christenson
M L
ML
Moran
C A
CA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed