Aims and objectives
The mediastinal pathology in children is varied.
The purpose of this work is to investigate the role of imaging in establishing the lesional topography and analyzing tissue composition for a better diagnostic approach.
Methods and materials
Retrospective study of 53 cases of mediastinal masses collected in the department of pediatric radiology of the CHU of Casablanca over 2 years.
All our patients had a CT scan before and after contrast product administration with histological confirmation in 38 cases.
Results
Thirty two boys and 21 girls,
aged between 3 days and 12 years with an average age of 6 ½ years.
The reasons for consultation were dominated by dyspnea and chest pain.
The results of our study are represented in Table 1.
The differential diagnosis of a mediastinal mass is based on identifying its location in anterior,
middle or posterior mediastinum and attenuation: soft tissue,
fat,
fluid,
enhancement and the presence or not of calcifications.
I. Anterior Mediastinal Masses
A. Lymphoma: Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma...
Conclusion
The mediastinal masses of the child are frequent and of various etiologies.
The diagnostic approach is based on a good knowledge of the compartmental anatomy of the mediastinum,
the different etiologies in children and their CT semiology.
Sectional imaging is the key to diagnosis.
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Imaging Evaluation of Mediastinal Masses in Children...