Mediastinal hematomas: aortic injury and beyond.

Mediastinal hematomas are the end result of numerous conditions ranging from the deadly traumatic aortic injury to the common changes after open heart surgery. The location of the hematoma, its relation with the surrounding structures, the clinical history, and associated findings can help narrow the differential diagnosis. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography is the imaging modality of choice because of its accessibility, noninvasiveness, rapid acquisition, and ability to evaluate the entire thorax at once.