title: Reactive mediastinal lymphadenopathy in bronchiectasis assessed by CT.
abstract: Mediastinal lymphadenopathy is commonly detected on CT. It is a non-specific finding, but because of its significance in the treatment in lung carcinoma it is important to know with which other disease states it is associated. We present a series of 42 patients in whom CT of the chest was used to confirm a clinical diagnosis of bronchiectasis. The size, number and distribution of mediastinal lymph nodes is documented. Lymph nodes were visible in 81% of patients. Nodes larger than 10 mm, the recognised maximum size for normal nodes in the U. K., were detected in 29%. In the absence of other recognised causes of lymphadenopathy in these patients, these findings confirm "reactive" mediastinal lymph node enlargement in bronchiectasis.
authors.affiliation: Wessex Bodyscanner Unit, Southampton General Hospital, U. K.
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Blaquiere
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001987:Bronchiectasis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008482:Mediastinum; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed