title: Evaluation of substernal goiters using computed tomography and MR imaging.
abstract: Computed tomography and MR imaging are valuable techniques for determining the presence and extent of substernal goiters, their impingement on adjacent structures in the neck and chest, and whether mediastinal masses are thyroidal in origin. This article discusses the advantages and disadvantages of each technique and the radiologic characteristics of substernal goiters. Radiographic examples of both techniques are included to illustrate common clinical settings. Finally, suggestions for choosing which patients will benefit from scanning and which technique will safely provide the maximum information in various clinical settings are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Endocrine Section, Department of Medicine, Presbyterian Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. ASJ111@aol.com
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jennings
mesh_terms: D006042:Goiter / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D010173:Palpation; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed