Simultaneous aterial and venous angiography in the evaluation of anterior mediastinal tumors.

Abstract

BENIGN AND malignant lesions involving the anterior mediastinum de novo or by extension are potentially serious and may become symptomatic by compromising vital structures. Although the severity of the symptoms may be roughly correlated with the extent of the tumor, a mass may attain considerable size before symptoms become manifest and, conversely, a small asymptomatic lesion may result in numerous anatomic and hemodynamic abnormalities not appreciated on routine studies. In order to utilize these secondary manifestations to better define obvious masses and thereby to establish criteria for the identification of more obscure lesions, we simultaneously opacified the anterior mediastinal vessels and the great vessels on the side of the dominant mass by means of ipsilateral brachial arteriography and sternal venography. Although the internal mammary arteries (1, 4) and veins (2, 5) have previously been individually outlined, the value of their simultaneous opacification had not been studied. It was felt tha...