Pitfalls in the plain film evaluation of the thoracic aorta: the mimicry of aneurysms and adjacent masses and the value of aortography. Part II. Descending thoracic aorta.

Distinguishing posterior mediastinal and pulmonary masses from aneurysms and tortuosity of the descending thoracic aorta may be difficult, as five such cases illustrate. Both the neoplasms and the aortic aneurysms or tortuosity can compress the same vital mediastinal structures; thus, they may give rise to the same symptoms. Because the plain film findings may also be similar, aortography is essential to their diagnosis.