T lymphoblastic leukemia | Figure 1
CincyKidsRad
Cincinnati Children's Radiology
T lymphoblastic leukemia
Frontal (image 1) and lateral (image 2) radiograph of the chest shows a lobulated mediastinal mass (arrow). Axial contrast-enhanced CT image of the chest shows the lobulated mass. The patient was later diagnosed with T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia. Lymphoma is the most common anterior mediastinal mass in children. Other causes of mediastinal mass include acute lymphoblastic leukemia, teratoma, germ cell tumors, and cysts. Mediastinal masses can be difficult to differentiate from the normal thymus in young children. In this patient, the lobulated margin of the thymus suggest that the mass represents tumor. The thymus has a smooth margin with gentle curves.