A number of mediastinal reflections are visible at conventional radiography that represent points of contact between the mediastinum and adjacent lung. The presence or distortion of these reflections is the key to the detection and interpretation of mediastinal abnormalities. Anterior mediastinal masses can be identified when the hilum overlay sign is present and the posterior mediastinal lines are preserved. Widening of the right paratracheal stripe and convexity relative to the aortopulmonary window reflection indicate a middle mediastinal abnormality. Disruption of the azygoesophageal recess can result from disease in either the middle or posterior mediastinum. Paravertebral masses disrupt the paraspinal lines, and the location of masses above the level of the clavicles can be inferred by their lateral margins, which are sharp in posterior masses but not in anterior masses. The divisions of the mediastinum are not absolute; however, referring to the local anatomy of the mediastinal reflections in an attempt to more accurately localize an abnormality may help narrow the differential diagnosis. Identification of the involved mediastinal compartment helps determine which imaging modality might be appropriate for further study.

Sarcomas of the prostate are rare tumours. Their clinicopathologic features are well described, however, the imaging features of these tumours have rarely been documented. The purpose of this article is to illustrate the imaging findings of prostate sarcomas, with an emphasis on their appearance on magnetic resonance imaging and to identify features that may help to differentiate them from the commoner prostate adenocarcinomas.

No abstract

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is the criterion standard in the assessment and staging of uterine cancer because of the high tissue contrast between glandular lining and inner and outer muscle layers of the uterine corpus and cervix on T2-weighted scans. It is also an essential tool in monitoring treatment response and in assessing disease recurrence in these patients. The key to a successful examination lies in good patient preparation, use of antiperistaltic agents, and a meticulous scanning technique. Endometrial carcinomas are the most common uterine malignancy, occurring in a primarily postmenopausal population. Dynamic contrast-enhanced scans may be required in addition to T2-weighted images to assess the presence of myometrial invasion in this age group. Cervical cancers occur in a younger population and are readily assessed with T2-weighted imaging. Use of an endovaginal receiver coil allows high spatial resolution imaging of the cervix, which is particularly useful when assessing patients for fertility-sparing procedures such as trachelectomy. Uterine sarcomas are 1% to 3% of all uterine malignancies and usually arise from a mixture of homologous and heterologous elements. Rarely, lymphoma, small cell carcinoma and metastatic deposits involve the uterus. This review summarizes the optimal scanning techniques for demonstrating uterine malignancy and discusses the role of imaging and the MRI appearances of uterine tumors.