TheDiaphragmaticCruraandRetrocruralSpaceNormalImagingAppearance,Variants,andPathologicConditionsGuoXiaochao2010
22RadioGraphics2008;28:1289-1305•Theretrocruralspace(RCS)isasmalltriangularregionwithinthemostinferiorposteriormediastinumborderedbythetwodiaphragmaticcrura
•MultiplanarimagingmodalitiesallowevaluationoftheRCSaspartofroutineexaminations
•Normalstructureswithintheretrocruralregionincludetheaorta,nerves,theazygosandhemiazygosveins,thecisternachyliwiththethoracicduct,fat,andlymphnodes
AnatomicConsiderations•DiaphragmandDiaphragmaticCrura•LymphNodes,CisternaChyli,andThoracicDuct52%atlymphangiography;1
7%atCT;15%–96%atMR•Aorta•AzygosandHemiazygosVeins•ParavertebralVenousPlexusvalveless•SympatheticTrunkandSplanchnicNerves•CisternaChyli&ThoracicDuct•ParavertebralVenousPlexus•Congenita