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Internal mammary compartment: window to the mediastinum.

PURPOSE
To determine the role of internal mammary ultrasonography (US) in assessment of the mediastinum.


MATERIALS AND METHODS
In 66 patients (age range, 2 days to 18 years old; mean age 6.5 years) US imaging with spectral and color Doppler was used to examine the internal mammary region. Forty-four patients were suspected to have mediastinal masses; 22, vascular abnormalities.


RESULTS
Five patients had abnormal internal mammary arterial flow (reversed in one). Internal mammary vein flow was reversed or absent in 10 patients with vein obstruction or Glenn shunts. Eight of 23 patients with lymphoma had internal mammary adenopathy. None of six patients with infectious mediastinal adenopathy and no patients with other benign mediastinal masses or vascular abnormalities had visualized internal mammary nodes.


CONCLUSION
US and Doppler imaging of the internal mammary vessels and nodes provide valuable information about the nature of mediastinal masses and vascular disease. Flow pattern in the internal mammary vessels may elucidate abnormalities of central vessels.