Magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreaticography for diagnosis and pre-interventional evaluation of a fluid thoracic mass.
Differential diagnoses of various types of thoracic cystic masses are a prerequisite for appropriate management strategies. Mediastinal pancreatic pseudocysts are rare but life-threatening complications of pancreatitis. They may appear as a thoracic mass on X-rays and need to be differentiated from other lesions. This report demonstrates that magnetic resonance cholangiopancreaticography, which is not included in current algorithms, is a valuable diagnostic tool in such cases. We summarize the advantages and disadvantages of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreaticography and show how pre-interventional identification of pancreatic origin and exclusion of necrotic debris guided the therapeutic management of the patient. However, after 3 weeks of successful percutaneous drainage, infectious complications necessitated surgical intervention.
Geier
Andreas
A
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Technology Aachen, Germany. ageier@ukaachen.de
Lammert
Frank
F
Gartung
Carsten
C
Nguyen
Huan N
HN
Wildberger
Joachim E
JE
Matern
Siegfried
S
D002758:Cholangiography / Q000379:methods*; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008477:Mediastinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D010192:Pancreatic Pseudocyst / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery