Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of mediastinal tumors.

We describe the clinical, pathological, and imaging findings of mediastinal tumors with focus on thymic hyperplasia, thymic epithelial tumors, and germ cell tumors, malignant lymphoma, and various cystic masses. Chemical shift magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is useful in characterization of the normal thymus and differentiation of hyperplastic thymus and thymic tumors. In contrast to noninvasive thymomas, invasive thymomas and thymic carcinomas show a more aggressive growth pattern.