CT Manifestations of Mediastinal Congenital Bronchogenic Cysts / 中国医学影像学杂志

ABSTRACT

PurposeTo explore the CT features and its diagnostic value of mediastinal congenital bronchogenic cysts.Materials and MethodsThe clinical findings and CT manifestations of 14 patients with mediastinal bronchogenic cysts confirmed by surgery and pathology were retrospectively analyzed, among which 12 were performed by both plain and enhanced CT scan, and the other 2 only received either plain or enhanced CT scan.ResultsAll the patients presentedfluid-filled cysts, and 3 of them had CT number lower than 20 HU, 7 cases from 20 to 60 HU, and 4 more than 60 HU. Four patients had lesions in anterior mediastinum, 4 others in posterior mediastinum, and all the 8 lesions were on the left side; 6 patients had lesions in middle mediastinum, among which 5 lesions were on the right side; and 1 case of posterior bronchogenic cysts cancerated into adenocarcinoma.ConclusionMediastinal bronchogenic cysts can appear in any part of mediastinum; lesions in middle mediastinum are more likely to occur on the right side, whilst lesions in anterior and posterior mediastinum are often located on the left side. The typical CT manifestations show well-defined round or oval masses of homogeneous soft-tissue or cysts with watery density.