These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: Percutaneous fine needle aspiration in the diagnosis and management of mediastinal cysts in adults.
    Author: Nath PH, Sanders C, Holley HC, McElvein RB.
    Journal: South Med J; 1988 Oct; 81(10):1225-8. PubMed ID: 3175728.
    Abstract:
    Management of asymptomatic mediastinal cysts in adults is controversial. In the past, these cysts were excised primarily to establish a diagnosis. Presently, computerized tomography (CT) of the chest can diagnose the majority of mediastinal cysts, based on their smooth contour and low density; however, CT diagnosis of a mediastinal cyst based on density can be erroneous. In six patients, we established the diagnosis of mediastinal cyst by percutaneous needle biopsy (PNB) without complication. In four of the patients, PNB was done as an outpatient procedure. Follow-up in five patients ranged from three months to three years, with no increase in the size of the cyst; in the sixth patient, surgical excision showed a hygroma. Thus, diagnosis of a mediastinal cyst can be safely confirmed by PNB. We suggest that these asymptomatic patients can be followed up without the need for surgical excision.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]