MR Imaging of the Thoracic Inlet

The thoracic inlet serves as the junction between the neck and the chest. As such, it is sometimes considered a sort of “no-man's-land” between the well-defined and comfortable territories of the thoracic radiologist and that of the head and neck radiologist. Crucial digestive, respiratory, vascular, lymphatic, and neural structures traverse the thoracic inlet. Endocrine structures also are in close proximity to, and sometimes extend into, the thoracic inlet. Familiarity with the normal anatomy of the thoracic inlet on routine chest or neck imaging, and on dedicated high-resolution examinations of such areas as the brachial plexus, is critical for detection and characterization of pathologic conditions.