CT and MRI findings of mucin-containing tumors and pseudotumors of the thorax: pictorial review.
Bronchial mucus has tomodensitometric features and MR signal intensity similar to that of water. However, chronic entrapped mucus collections, due to water reabsorption and higher protein content, can have CT attenuation values higher than 20 and reaching even 130 HU. Higher protein concentration also causes a sensible reduction in T1 relaxation time. The demonstration of mucus within a mediastinal, bronchial or pulmonary lesion is an important diagnostic clue permitting remarkable shortening of the list of differential diagnoses. This article illustrates the CT and MR findings allowing correct characterization of the mucus-containing lesions of mediastinum, bronchi, and lung.
Gaeta
Michele
M
Institute of Radiological Sciences, Policlinico G. Martino, University of Messina, 98100 Messina, Italy.
Vinci
Sergio
S
Minutoli
Fabio
F
Mazziotti
Silvio
S
Ascenti
Giorgio
G
Salamone
Ignazio
I
Lamberto
Salvatore
S
Blandino
Alfredo
A
D002282:Adenocarcinoma, Bronchiolo-Alveolar / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002288:Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001984:Bronchial Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001994:Bronchogenic Cyst / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D009093:Mucus; D013899:Thoracic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed