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Hello Glias !  The anterior mediastinum is home to some of the most commonly encountered masses on chest imaging. Thymic cysts are benign, fluid-filled lesions but can easily be mistaken for neoplastic processes like thymoma, germ cell tumors, or lymphoma. Accurate differentiation avoids unnecessary surgeries and anxiety. What Are Thymic Cysts • Benign lesions arising in the thymus or thymopharyngeal tract • Uni- or multilocular • Can be congenital or acquired (infection, radiation, autoimmune disease) They frequently appear during an evaluation for unrelated symptoms or cancer staging. CT Clues On CT, a thymic cyst typically shows  fluid attenuation , meaning it appears near water density. Some cysts may look slightly denser if they contain protein or blood products, but they still lack soft tissue nodularity. A true cyst shows  no internal enhancement . At most, you may see a very thin enhancing rim corresponding to the capsule. If any mural nodularity or solid enhancin...

Pericardial recesses are small “nooks” of normal pericardial fluid that become visible on modern thin-slice MDCT. They are completely normal, yet they frequently imitate mediastinal lymph nodes or cystic lesions. Mislabeling them can create unnecessary concern and even affect oncologic staging. Every radiology resident should feel comfortable identifying these fluid spaces confidently. Why These Recesses Fool Us • They lie close to major vascular and mediastinal structures • They can appear as discrete pockets of fluid • They may be imaged in only one or two slices if thicker cuts are used Given the stakes in oncology imaging, distinguishing recesses from disease matters. The Major Recesses to Know Understanding the organization of the pericardial space is the first step. Two serosal reflections create several recognizable compartments. Transverse sinus Located between the aorta, pulmonary artery, and left atrium. Contains: • Superior aortic recess • Inferior aortic recess • Right and ...