CT and MR Findings of Chest Wall Masses

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the characteristic radiological findings of various diseases forming chest wall masses by CT and MR. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed CT and MR findings of the chest wall masses in 31 patients. Morphology, density, features of contrast enhancement, and location of the mass within the bony thorax or soft tissue were analyzed. RESULTS: Benign lesions of bony thorax were osteochondritis(n=2), tuberculosis(n=1), and osteochon droma (n=l). Malignant lesions of bony thorax were Ewing's sarcoma(n=I) and metastasis(n=3). Benign lesions of soft tissue were abscess(n=1), tuberculosis(n=7), lipoma(n=l), cavernous hemangioma(n=2), cavernous lymphangioma(n=1), and neurofibroma(n=l). Malignant lesions of soft tissue were lymphoma(n=l), spindle cell sarcoma(n=1), metastasis(n=8). Tuberculosis of the chest wall (n=8) were ill-defined hypodense(n=7) or isodense(n=l) mass than surrounding muscle on pre-enhanced CT scan. All massess showed peripheral rim enhancement after contrast enhancement. Five cases were associated with pulmonary or pleural tuberculosis. All malignant lesions of bony thorax showed bone destruction, but inflammatory processes also showed bone destruction. MR showed characeristic signal intensity in the case of lipoma(n=l) and hemangioma(n=l). CONCLUSION: We conclude that CT and MR are helpful for differential diagnosis of chest wall masses.