Figure 1
Study workflow of patient selection.
Table 1
Patient characteristics in the three groups of BCs.
| CHARACTERISTICS | MEDIASTINAL | INTRAPULMONARY | ECTOPIC | P VALUE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gender | 0.086 | |||
| Male | 27(40.9%) | 3(75.0%) | 9(69.2%) | |
| Female | 39(59.1%) | 1(25.0%) | 4(30.8%) | |
| Age | 47.8±1.6 | 58.3±4.9 | 43.5±3.9 | 0.089 |
| Clinical symptom | 0.199 | |||
| Absence | 50(75.8%) | 2(50.0%) | 8(61.5%) | |
| Presence | 16(24.2%) | 2(50.0%) | 5(38.5%) | |
| Swallowing difficulty | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
| Acid reflux | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| Chest tightness | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
| Chest pain | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Coughing and expectoration | 4 | 2 | 1 | |
| Sore throat | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| Subcutaneous lump | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Numbness in lower limbs | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Figure 2
Posterior mediastinum BC (arrow) in a 53-year-old female. 2A On unenhanced CT, a hypodense mass was observed in the left posterior mediastinum, with attenuation values of 12.0 Hu. 2B On fat-suppressed T2WI, the mass showed homogeneous hyperintensity. 2C–D On T1WI, the mass appeared hypointense with marginal enhancement. 2E The signal intensity of the mass on DWI was hypointense. 2F The ADC values for the mass were 2.61 × 10–3 mm2/sec. 2G Photomicrograph showed typical pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium structure (hematoxylin and eosin staining; original magnification, ×100).
Figure 3
Gastric cardia BC (arrow) in a 67-year-old male. 3A Unenhanced CT revealed a soft-tissue attenuation mass in the gastric cardia, with attenuation values of 45.9 Hu. 3B The mass was homogeneous hyperintense on fat-suppressed T2WI. 3C–D T1WI revealed that the mass was hypointense without enhancement. 3E The signal intensity of the mass on DWI was hyperintense. 3F The ADC values for the mass were 2.83 × 103 mm2/sec. 3G Typical pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium structure was found on photomicrograph (hematoxylin and eosin staining; original magnification, ×100).
Figure 4
Chest wall BC (arrow) in a 30-year-old male. 4A Unenhanced CT showed a hypodense mass in the chest wall, with attenuation values of 21.1 Hu. 4B There was no enhancement of the mass on enhanced CT. 4C Photomicrograph demonstrated typical pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium structure (hematoxylin and eosin staining; original magnification, ×100).
Table 2
CT and MR imaging findings in the three groups of BCs.
| CHARACTERISTICS | MEDIASTINAL | INTRAPULMONARY | ECTOPIC | P VALUE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum diameter(cm) | 2.7 ± 0.2 | 3.0 ± 0.7 | 2.9 ± 0.4 | 0.612 |
| Calcification | 0.332 | |||
| Presence | 9(13.6%) | 1(25.0%) | 4(30.8%) | |
| Absence | 57(86.4%) | 3(75.0%) | 9(69.2%) | |
| Morphology | 0.209 | |||
| Roundish | 58(87.9%) | 2(50.0%) | 11(84.6%) | |
| Lobulated/irregular | 8(12.1%) | 2(50.0%) | 2(15.4%) | |
| Plain CT attenuation(Hu) | 36.3 ± 1.9 | 29.7 ± 7.9 | 37.5 ± 4.6 | 0.652 |
| Water-like attenuation | 10(15.1%) | 2(50.0%) | 1(7.7%) | |
| Soft-tissue attenuation | 56(84.9%) | 2(50.0%) | 12(92.3%) | |
| CT C+ | 40 | 4 | 9 | - |
| Unenhanced | 35(87.5%) | 3(75.0%) | 9(100.0%) | |
| Slightly marginal enhanced | 5(12.5%) | 1(25.0%) | 0(0.0%) | |
| T1WI | 11 | 0 | 3 | - |
| Hypointense | 2(18.2%) | 0(0.0%) | 1(33.3%) | |
| Isointense | 3(27.3%) | 0(0.0%) | 0(0.0%) | |
| Hyperintense | 6(54.5%) | 0(0.0%) | 2(66.7%) | |
| T2WI | 11 | 0 | 3 | - |
| Hypo/isointense | 0(0.0%) | 0(0.0%) | 0(0.0%) | |
| Hyperintense | 11(100.0%) | 0(0.0%) | 3(100.0%) | |
| DWI | 11 | 0 | 3 | - |
| Hypointense | 6(54.5%) | 0(0.0%) | 0(0.0%) | |
| Hyperintense | 5(45.5%) | 0(0.0%) | 3(100.0%) | |
| ADC | 11 | 0 | 3 | - |
| Hypo/isointense | 0(0.0%) | 0(0.0%) | 0(0.0%) | |
| Hyperintense | 11(100.0%) | 0(0.0%) | 3(100.0%) | |
| T1WI C+ | 10 | 0 | 3 | - |
| Unenhanced | 6(60.0%) | 0(0.0%) | 1(33.3%) | |
| Slightly marginal enhanced | 4(40.0%) | 0(0.0%) | 2(66.7%) |
Table 3
Patient characteristics and imaging findings of confirmed group and misdiagnosis group.
| CHARACTERISTICS | CONFIRMED GROUP | MISDIAGNOSIS GROUP | P VALUE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gender | 0.559 | ||
| Male | 17(43.6%) | 22(50.0%) | |
| Female | 22(56.4%) | 22(50.0%) | |
| Age | 46.0±2.3 | 49.4±2.0 | 0.587 |
| Clinical symptom | 0.071 | ||
| Absence | 24(61.5%) | 22(50.0%) | |
| Presence | 15(38.5%) | 22(50.0%) | |
| Maximum diameter(cm) | 3.3±0.3 | 2.3±0.1 | 0.005 |
| Calcification | 0.804 | ||
| Presence | 7(17.9%) | 7(15.9%) | |
| Absence | 32(82.1%) | 37(84.1%) | |
| Morphology | 0.821 | ||
| Roundish | 33(84.6%) | 38(86.4%) | |
| Lobulated/irregular | 6(15.4%) | 6(13.6%) | |
| Plain CT attenuation(Hu) | 32.7±2.4 | 39.2±2.2 | 0.045 |
| CT C+ | 26 | 27 | - |
| Unenhanced | 26(100.0%) | 21(77.8%) | |
| Slightly marginal enhanced | 0(0.0%) | 6(22.2%) | |
| T1WI | 9 | 5 | - |
| Hypointense | 2(22.2%) | 1(20.0%) | |
| Isointense | 3(33.3%) | 0(0.0%) | |
| Hyperintense | 4(44.5%) | 4(80.0%) | |
| T2WI | 9 | 5 | - |
| Hypo/isointense | 0(0.0%) | 0(0.0%) | |
| Hyperintense | 9(100.0%) | 5(0.0%) | |
| DWI | 9 | 5 | - |
| Hypointense | 5(55.6%) | 1(20.0%) | |
| Hyperintense | 4(44.4%) | 4(80.0%) | |
| ADC | 9 | 5 | - |
| Hypo/isointense | 0(0.0%) | 0(0.0%) | |
| Hyperintense | 9(100.0%) | 5(0.0%) | |
| T1WI C+ | 8 | 5 | - |
| Unenhanced | 6(75.0%) | 1(20.0%) | |
| Slightly marginally enhanced | 2(25.0%) | 4(80.0%) |
Table 4
Diagnosis and misdiagnosis results in the three groups of BCs.
| CHARACTERISTICS | MEDIASTINAL | INTRAPULMONARY | ECTOPIC | P VALUE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Confirmed group | 36 | 1 | 2 | 0.001 |
| Bronchogenic cyst | 12(33.3%) | 1(100.0%) | 0(0.0%) | |
| Mediastinal cyst | 24(66.7%) | 0(0.0%) | 0(0.0%) | |
| Dermoid cyst | 0(0.0%) | 0(0.0%) | 2(100.0%) | |
| Misdiagnosis group | 30 | 3 | 11 | <0.001 |
| Thymoma | 20(66.7%) | 0(0.0%) | 0(0.0%) | |
| Nasal polyp | 0(0.0%) | 0(0.0%) | 1(9.1%) | |
| Neurogenic tumor | 9(30.0%) | 0(0.0%) | 2(18.2%) | |
| Lymphangioma | 1(3.3%) | 0(0.0%) | 5(45.4%) | |
| Lung cancer | 0(0.0%) | 2(66.7%) | 0(0.0%) | |
| Tuberculosis | 0(0.0%) | 1(33.3%) | 0(0.0%) | |
| Gastrointestinal stromal tumor | 0(0.0%) | 0(0.0%) | 1(9.1%) | |
| Adrenal adenoma | 0(0.0%) | 0(0.0%) | 1(9.1%) | |
| Teratoma | 0(0.0%) | 0(0.0%) | 1(9.1%) |
Figure 5
Cystic lymphangioma (arrow) in a 43-year-old female. 5A Unenhanced CT revealed a water-like attenuation mass between the stomach and pancreas, with attenuation values of 16.8 Hu. 5B Enhanced CT showed the mass was hypodense without enhancement. 5C–D The mass was hyperintense on coronal T2WI and axial fat-suppressed T2WI, with multilocular characteristics. 5E The signal intensity of the mass on T1WI was hypointense. 5F Flat endothelial cells, loose connective tissue and scattered lymphocytes were observed on photomicrograph (hematoxylin and eosin staining; original magnification, ×100).
Figure 6
Ganglioneuroma (arrow) in a 49-year-old male. 6A Unenhanced CT revealed a soft-tissue attenuation mass on the left side of the abdominal aorta, with attenuation values of 31.7 Hu. 6B The mass was slightly hyperintense on fat-suppressed T2WI. 6C–D T1WI revealed that the mass was hypointense without enhancement. 6E The signal intensity of the mass on DWI was hyperintense. 6F The ADC values for the mass were 1.71 × 10–3 mm2/sec. 6G Disorganized spindle cells were found on photomicrograph (hematoxylin and eosin staining; original magnification, ×100).