Normal mediastinal contours

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Normal mediastinal contours

  • Here are some of the normal mediastinal contours often seen on chest X-rays
  • These contours are created by difference in density of anatomical structures of the mediastinum and adjacent tissues
  • Not all of these contours are present on all normal chest X-rays and their visibility depends on technical factors
  • Abnormality of these contours may help establish the presence and determine the location of pathological processes of the mediastinum or adjacent structures
  • If one of these contours is obscured, then an abnormality is likely to be located next to the structure that the contour represents

Page author: Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust UK (Read bio)

Last reviewed: October 2019