title: Ectopic pancreas in the anterior mediastinum: A report of two cases and review of the literature.
abstract: Ectopia of the pancreatic tissue is a developmental anomaly found in ~2% of all autopsies, and 70~90% of these anomalies are located in the gastrointestinal tract. Mediastinal localization of an ectopic pancreas is extremely rare. Herein, we report two cases with mediastinal ectopic pancreas clarified by pathology and shown by thoracic contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In addition, a brief review of the relevant literatures is presented. Although CT and MRI manifestations of this lesion are nonspecific, certain notable findings need to be focused on. When there is a mass in the anterior mediastinum with marked and heterogeneous enhancement, along with necrotic and liquefied non-enhanced areas in the center, ectopic pancreas should be considered and differentiated from other neoplasms in this region.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Lizhi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Li-Qing
authors.initials: LQ
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jian-Qun
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Hong-Mei
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Gang
authors.initials: ZG
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Han-Jiang
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wei
keywords: anterior mediastinum; computed tomography; ectopic pancreas; magnetic resonance imaging