Imaging Pearls ❯ Vascular ❯ Mediastinitis
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- Acute Mediastinitis: Etiology
- Postoperative complications
- Esophageal perforation
- Extension of osteomyelitis from adjacent bone
- Descending necrotizing mediastinitis
- Hematogenous spread of infection - Acute Mediastinitis: CT Findings
- Increased attenuation of mediastinal fat
- Free gas bubbles in the mediastinum
- Localized fluid collections
- Enlarged lymph nodes
- Pleural effusions
- Empyema
Nonvascular, Nontraumatic Mediastinal Emergencies in Adults: A Comprehensive Review of Imaging Findings
Katabathina VS et al.
RadioGraphics 2011; 31:1141-1160 - “ Acute mediastinitis occurs in 0.5%-5% of patients who underwent median sternotomy and has a reported mortality rate of 7%-80%. Staphylococcus aureus is the most common causitive microorganism of postoperative acute mediastinitis.”
Nonvascular, Nontraumatic Mediastinal Emergencies in Adults: A Comprehensive Review of Imaging Findings
Katabathina VS et al.
RadioGraphics 2011; 31:1141-1160 - “ The presence of mediastinal gas bubbles and fluid collections on CT images after the 14th postoperative day has sensitivity and specificity approaching 100% for the diagnosis of acute mediastinitis.”
Nonvascular, Nontraumatic Mediastinal Emergencies in Adults: A Comprehensive Review of Imaging Findings
Katabathina VS et al.
RadioGraphics 2011; 31:1141-1160 - Sternal Dehiscence on CT
- Displacement of sternal wires
- Rotation of sternal wires
- Fracture of sternal wires
- Widening of mediastinal stripe