Kulamani Sahoo1, Neeraj Wadhwa2, Pramod Shaha3, Avadhoot Jadhav4
ABSTRACT: Azygoesophageal recess (AER) is right posterior mediastinal recess. Knowledge of normal radiologic appearance and manifestations of disease in AER can facilitate the detection and diagnosis of many intrathoracic diseases ranging from infective processes to tumors involving mediastinum, lung/pleura, lymphatic system, upper gastrointestinal system (esophagus & stomach) & cardio-vascular system. Aim of this study was to investigate various intrathoracic pathologies, altering the configuration of AER on CT in adults & to find out any significance with various disease processes. This study was carried out in CT center, Department of Radiodiagnosis, Krishna Institute of medical sciences, Karad from October 2012-September 2014. CT thorax of 156 patients was studied for configuration of AER irrespective of pathology. In this study, configuration of AER was altered in descending order with pathologies belonging to following systems: Respiratory system (Lung parenchyma pathologies causing volume loss of right lower lobe particularly Koch’s, UIP, Malignancy, Pleural pathologies (Secondary more common than Primary) >Lymphatic system(secondary subcarinal lymph node more common than Primary Lymphoma) >Cardio-vascular system(Cardiomegaly particularly Left atrial enlargement) >Gastrointestinal system (hiatus hernia & esophageal Cancer) > Mediastinum(Koch’s of dorsal spine with paraspinal abscess).
