title: MR Imaging of Mediastinal Masses.
abstract: The high soft tissue contrast of MR imaging enables superior tissue characterization of mediastinal masses, adding diagnostic specificity and often changing and benefiting clinical management. MR imaging can better discern cystic from solid content and can detect microscopic fat, hemorrhage, and fibrous content within lesions. In many cases, mediastinal MR imaging may prevent unnecessary diagnostic intervention. In other cases, MR imaging may indicate the optimal site for biopsy or the correct compartment for resection. Awareness of the efficacy of MR imaging with regard to mediastinal mass characterization and judicious MR imaging utilization should further improve patient care.
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic Imaging and Intervention, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Founders 202, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA. Electronic address: jackman@mgh.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Jeanne B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Ackman
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008477:Mediastinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
keywords: Clinical management; Cystic; Diagnostic specificity; Fibrous; Hemorrhagic; MR imaging; Mediastinal mass; Tissue characterization