Percutaneous catheter aspiration and drainage of suspected mediastinal abscesses.

Abstract
CT-[computed tomography]-guided percutaneous aspiration of 13 apparent mediastinal abscesses in 12 extremely ill patients, excluding the diagnosis in 3 and establishing it in 9 is described. Six patients subsequently underwent percutaneous catheter drainage, facilitating elective surgery in 1 and proving curative in 5.