title: Imaging of the mediastinum: applications for thoracic surgery.
abstract: The diagnostic approach to patients who have mediastinal masses should include thorough preoperative imaging. Once limited to plain radiographic techniques, the radiologist now has a wide variety of imaging modalities to aid in the evaluation of the mediastinum. CT is the imaging modality of choice for evaluating a suspected mediastinal mass or a widened mediastinum, and it provides the most useful information for the diagnosis, treatment, and evaluation of postoperative complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Hadassah University Hospital, Ein-Kerem, Jerusalem 91120, Israel. dshaham@hadassah.org.il
authors.forename: Dorith
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shaham
authors.forename: Maria G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Skilakaki
authors.forename: Orly
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Goitein
mesh_terms: D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D019616:Thoracic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed / Q000379:methods; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler / Q000379:methods