Anthrax CT

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: João André Alves Silva, M.D. [2]

Overview

The chest CT scan findings in anthrax include mediastinal widening, hyperdense lymph nodes, and edema of the mediastinal fat.

CT

Chest CT is able to identify the following changes in inhaled anthrax patients:

• Mediastinal widening: common among patients who present at a hospital emergency department
• Hyperdense lymph nodes in the mediastinum: represent hemorrhage and necrosis following spore germination and vegetative growth with exotoxin elaboration
• Edema of mediastinal fat