[Enlargement of the lower mediastinum: pericardiac or extracardiac origin? (author's transl)].

The radiographic findings in 9 patients who suffered from a non-myocardiac enlargement of the lower anterior mediastinum are discussed. By means of several diagnostic procedures consisting of radiography, fluoroscopy, roentgen-kymography, angiocardiography and needle-biopsy under visible control it is often possible to distinguish between primary pericardiac lesions and growths of the mediastinum lying in close contact to the heart. In most cases, however, final histological diagnosis will only be reached by thoracotomy with removement of the tumor.