Congenital diaphragmatic eventration as a cause of anterior mediastinal mass in the children: imaging modalities and literature review

Abstract

Congenital eventration of the diaphragm, as a cause of mediastinal mass, is an unusual condition and it may be unilateral or bilateral. Although this entity is frequently asymptomatic and firstly detected on the chest radiography, it may be difficult to distinguish a partial eventration from the other diaphragmatic lesions or mediastinal pathologies on the chest radiographs. US may present valuable information about diaphragm integrity with eventration content or the other diaphragmatic pathologies. Although the other imaging modalities such as fluoroscopy, computed tomography, and MR imaging may be performed as adjunct techniques in cases of the diagnosis still in doubt, they are frequently unnecessary after US. Our goal is to present imaging features and management of this entity together with a literature review.