title: Anterior Mediastinal Masses in the Framingham Heart Study: Prevalence and CT Image Characteristics.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the prevalence and CT image characteristics of anterior mediastinal masses in a population-based cohort and their association with the demographics of the participants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Chest CT scans of 2571 Framingham Heart Study participants (mean age 58.9 years, 51% female) were evaluated by two board-certified radiologists with expertise in thoracic imaging for the presence of anterior mediastinal masses, their shape, contour, location, invasion of adjacent structures, fat content, and calcification. For participants with anterior mediastinal masses, a previous cardiac CT scan was reviewed for interval size change of the masses, when available. The demographics of the participants were studied for any association with the presence of anterior mediastinal masses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 2571, 23 participants (0.9%, 95% CI: 0.6 to 1.3) had anterior mediastinal masses on CT. The most common CT characteristics were oval shape, lobular contour, and midline location, showing soft tissue density (median 32.1 HU). Fat content was detected in a few cases (9%, 2/23). Six out of eight masses with available prior cardiac CT scans demonstrated an interval growth over a median period of 6.5 years. No risk factors for anterior mediastinal masses were detected among participants' demographics, including age, sex, BMI, and cigarette smoking.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of anterior mediastinal masses is 0.9% in the Framingham Heart Study. Those masses may increase in size when observed over 5-7 years. Investigation of clinical significance in incidentally found anterior mediastinal masses with a longer period of follow-up would be necessary.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Center for Pulmonary Functional Imaging, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA ; Department of Radiology, Kinki University Faculty of Medicine, Osaka-Sayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsuro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Araki
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Center for Pulmonary Functional Imaging, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Mizuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nishino
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA ; The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute's Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, MA.
authors.forename: Josée
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dupuis
authors.affiliation: The Pulmonary and Critical Care Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: George R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Washko
authors.affiliation: The Pulmonary and Critical Care Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Gary M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Hunninghake
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Kinki University Faculty of Medicine, Osaka-Sayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Takamichi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.affiliation: The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute's Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, MA ; Pulmonary Center and Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: George T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Center for Pulmonary Functional Imaging, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Hiroto
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hatabu
keywords: Anterior mediastinal masses; CT; Prevalence; the Framingham Heart Study