Utility of computed tomography in the diagnosis of thoracic aneurysm in childhood.

For an unusual case of saccular aneurysm of the thoracic aorta in a child, the computed tomographic demonstration of a totally vascular mass led directly to the definitive diagnosis by angiocardiography and eliminated the need for many additional imaging or chemical tests. This case illustrates how computed tomography can be beneficial in the potentially difficult diagnostic evaluation of pediatric medistinal masses.