Case report: the computed tomographic features of mediastinal bronchogenic cyst rupture into the bronchial tree

Bronchogenic cysts are congenital anomalies which occur most commonly within the mediastinum. They may become complicated by fistula formation with the bronchial tree. We report a case of an adult male where such a complication occurred between the time of the patient's chest radiograph and his examination by computed tomography (CT). We believe that this is the first reported CT demonstration of an air-fluid level within a mediastinal bronchogenic cyst, in a typical site, presumed to be caused by rupture into the bronchial tree.