Long-Term Follow-up of Residual Mediastinal Masses in Treated Hodgkin's Disease Using MR Imaging

Abstract

Purpose:

Long-term follow-up of residual mediastinal masses in treated Hodgkin's disease using MR imaging.

Material and Methods:

Ten patients, with substantial residual mediastinal masses of low signal intensity (SI) in the T2-weighted image (T2WI), were reinvestigated with MR 19–79 months after completing treatment of Hodgkin's disease. All patients were in complete remission.

Results:

During the follow-up period, the masses had decreased in size by 0–95% (median 67%) as compared to their initial post-therapy size. The SI continued to be low in the T2WI and was unaffected by the degree of size reduction.

Conclusion:

It is speculated that these mainly fibrotic residual masses undergo slow degradation of the fibrotic part and/or resorption of remaining inflammatory tissue. It is important to understand the natural, long-term MR imaging changes of these residual masses in order more easily to recognize tumour recurrence or other pathologic conditions.