Computerized tomographic differentiation of mediastinal tumor from tumor of the chest wall

We tried to differentiate mediastinal tumors from tumor of the chest wall by computerized tomography. 1) We defined the heads of the ribs as the boundary between the posterior mediastinum and chest wall. 2) Based on the definition of the mediastimum as described in 1) above, half of all neurogenic tumors (two of four cases) were classified as tumors of the chest wall, which was reasonable from the point of view of operative findings and procedures. 3) It is important to precisely show the pleural envelope of the tumor and pleural deviation by tumor growth for the differential diagnosis of mediastinal tumor and tumor of the chest wall. (author)