mediastinitis

Introduction

Acute infection of the mediastinal space, a medical emergency.

Etiology

• esophageal rupture resulting from iatrogenic trauma
• tumor necrosis in the mediastinum

Clinical manifestations

• fever
• dyspnea
• neck pain
• thoracic paraspinal pain
• dysphagia
• odynophagia

Radiology

• chest X-ray
  • pleural effusion
  • pneumomediastinum
• contrast imaging of the esophagus

Management

• immediate surgical drainage
• intensive antibiotic therapy
• mortality is > 50% if diagnosis & treatment is delayed > 24 hours

More general terms

• inflammation
• mediastinal disease (diseases of the mediastinum)

Additional terms

• mediastinum