OBJECTIVETo explore the features of various mediastinal lymphadenopathies using computed tomography perfusion (CTP).

METHODSCTP parameters (CTPs) of the selected mediastinal nodes from 59 patients with pathology-proven malignant lymph nodes and of those from 29 patients with clinically diagnosed or pathology-proven inflammatory lymphadenopathies were collected. Patients were divided into subgroups by etiology and phase of primary disease, including different pathological malignant nodes and diverse inflammatory nodes. CTPs were defined as blood flow (BF), blood volume (BV), mean transit time (MTT), permeability (PMB), and time to peak (TTP). Differences of CTPs were compared between malignant and benign nodes, and among subgroups, respectively.

RESULTSIn the mediastinum, no significant differences of CTPs were found between malignant and benign groups (all P>0.05), the same for subgroups of malignant nodes (all P>0.05). Acute lymphadenitis had higher BF and BV than chronic inflammatory, lymphoid tuberculosis, sarcoidosis and malignant nodes. The BF of malignant nodes was markedly slower than that of acute lymphadenitis (P=0.01), but faster than chronic inflammatory nodes (P=0.04) and sarcoidosis (P=0.03), with no significant difference compared with lymphoid tuberculosis. Pneumonia-complicated lymphoid tuberculosis showed the longest MTT while sarcoidosis displayed the shortest MTT, and inflammatory nodes, lymphoid tuberculosis without complicated pneumonia and malignant nodes had moderate MTT.

CONCLUSIONCTPs show promising potential in distinguishing various lymphadenopathies in the mediastinum, but more studies are needed to improve their specificity.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; diagnostic imaging ; Lymphatic Diseases ; diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Mediastinal Diseases ; diagnostic imaging ; Perfusion ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods

BACKGROUND: Mediastinal infection is a serious infection of mediastinal connective tissue, with more complications and higher mortality. Application of broad-spectrum antibiotics and nutritional support, early sufficient drainage is the key to successful treatment. In the mode of drainage, this paper discusses the application of continuous negative pressure drainage technique to treat acute anterior mediastinal infection of severe mouth pharynx source, and the good results are summarized and shared. METHODS: In January to December in 2017, a total of 17 cases treated acute mediastinal infection is derived from the throat, has formed a mediastinal abscess, surgery adopts retrosternal counterpart negative pressure drainage way, namely the sternum nest and free sternum xiphoid process under the incision on the first mediastinal clearance, make breakthrough and placed drainage device, suture closed wound, continuous negative pressure drainage, negative pressure using 3 cm-5 cm water column. RESULTS: Among the 17 patients, 14 patients were relieved by continuous negative pressure drainage, and then the drainage tube was removed. In 2 cases, the infection broke into the right thoracic cavity, and the closed drainage caused the negative pressure to disappear, and the negative pressure drainage was replaced by the conventional drainage, and the drainage tube was removed after the drainage tube was clear. One patient had formed a mediastinal abscess incision drainage time later, complicated with septic shock and sepsis, resulting in the death of multiple organ failure. CONCLUSIONS The traditional treatment of severe acute mediastinal infection is sternal incision and drainage. Continuous negative pressure drainage adequate drainage of mediastinal can relieve patients' pain, effusion, and avoid the dressing out repeatedly. It is an effective method. However, there are limitations in this method, which need to be further optimized.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Drainage ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mediastinal Diseases ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; surgery ; Mediastinum ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Pharyngeal Diseases ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; Young Adult

Abscess/diagnosis* ; Cardiac Tamponade/etiology* ; Humans ; Klebsiella Infections/diagnosis* ; Klebsiella pneumoniae ; Mediastinal Diseases/diagnostic imaging*

Fatal Outcome ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Mediastinal Neoplasms ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Mediastinum ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive, Peripheral ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Radiography ; Spinal Cord Diseases ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; pathology ; Young Adult

Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Female ; Humans ; Hypercalcemia ; etiology ; Mediastinal Cyst ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Parathyroid Diseases ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Ultrasonography

We retrospectively analyzed the features of the size, morphology, attenuation, the enhancement patterns, and anatomic distribution of 45 patients with mediastinal tuberculous lymphadenitis shown on contrast-enhanced multislice spiral CT (MSCT). 80% of the patients showed peripheral enhancement, and 38% of them showed multilocular appearance. deltaCT (The CT on enhanced scan minus that on the unenhanced scan) in the central area (15 +/- 12) HU was less than that in the peripheral area (27 +/- 16) HU (P < 0.01). The enlarged lymph nodes were predominantly distributed in the regions of 4R (87%), 2R (76%), 7 (73%), 10R (62%), and 4L (51%). MSCT could reveal the enhancement patterns and predominant anatomic distribution, which was of great value for the diagnosis of mediastinal tuberculous lymphadenitis.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Contrast Media ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mediastinal Diseases ; diagnostic imaging ; Mediastinum ; diagnostic imaging ; Middle Aged ; Radiographic Image Enhancement ; methods ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; Tuberculosis, Lymph Node ; diagnostic imaging ; Young Adult

Castleman's disease is a slowly progressive and rare lymphoproliferative disorder. Here, we report a 55-year-old woman with superior mediastinal Castleman's disease being misdiagnosed for a long term. We found a 4.3 cm mass localized in the superior mediastinum accompanied with severe clinical symptoms. The patient underwent an exploratory laparotomy, but the mass failed to be totally excised. Pathologic examination revealed a mediastinal mass of Castleman's disease. After radiotherapy of 30 Gy by 15 fractions, the patient no longer presented previous symptoms. At 3 months after radiotherapy of 60 Gy by 30 fractions, Computed tomography of the chest showed significantly smaller mass, indicating partial remission. Upon a 10-month follow-up, the patient was alive and free of symptoms.
Antigens, CD20 ; metabolism ; Castleman Disease ; diagnosis ; immunology ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Mediastinal Diseases ; diagnosis ; immunology ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Mediastinum ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Multimodal Imaging ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed