Mediastinum - Acute mediastinitis

Home Chapter Home Jobs Conferences Fellowships Books

Mediastinum

Inflammatory disorders

Acute mediastinitis

Reviewer: Hanni Gulwani, M.D. (see Reviewers page)
Revised: 22 February 2013, last major update December 2012
Copyright: (c) 2003-2013, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.

General
=========================================================================

● Usually in posterior mediastinum, due to traumatic perforation of esophagus or descending infection along prevertebral fascia
● Initial lesion may be a neck abscess
● Often causes mediastinal abscess which requires surgical drainage
● Other causes: chest wall infection or post-cardiac surgery, often due to CMV

Case reports
=========================================================================

● Sternum osteolysis following staphylococcus mediastinitis (Cardiovasc Pathol 2006;15:297)
● Descending necrotizing mediastinitis: rare spreading of cervical infection to mediastinum (Clin Imaging 2005;29:138)

Micro images
=========================================================================

Extensive acute inflammation

Fibrinoinflammatory exudate

End of Mediastinum > Inflammatory disorders > Acute mediastinitis

This information is intended for physicians and related personnel, who understand that medical information is often imperfect, and must be interpreted in the context of a patient's clinical data using reasonable medical judgment. This website should not be used as a substitute for the advice of a licensed physician.

All information on this website is protected by copyright of PathologyOutlines.com, Inc. Information from third parties may also be protected by copyright. Please contact us at copyrightPathOut@gmail.com with any questions (click here for other contact information).