[The diagnostic use of computed tomography in the management of mediastinal abscess (author's transl)].

Computed tomography (CT) is of outstanding importance in the current diagnosis of mediastinal pathology. We have recently treated a patient who underwent laryngectomy and then experienced a septic temperature pattern during the postoperative period which was suspect of mediastinal abscess. A mediastinal CT was obtained, and uncovered a lesion in the anterior mediastinum. Although the test was unable to differentiate between an abscess and a degenerating metastasis, the test was instrumental in first revealing the presence of the lesion, localizing it exactly, and enabling an effective surgical approach to be used for exploring the mediastinum. This entailed an anterior mediastinotomy with partial resection of a rib.