Mesothelial cysts have many other names, such as pericardial celomic cyst, pleura-diaphragmatic cyst, simple cyst of the mediastinum, springwater cyst, serosal cyst, etc. (Petereit 1972, Drash 1950). Most mesothelial cysts are believed to originate from malformations of the pericardium, but some, like the one in this case, are believed to result from a pleural malformation. (Ochsner 1966, Lambert 1940). Mesothelial cysts are extremely rare and can be confirmed histologically by special stains. A 64 year old woman was admitted due to a painless bulging mass in her right neck. The operation was performed with the initial diagnosis of cystic lymphangioma confirmed by computer tomography and total excision was possible. The diagnosis of mesothelial cyst of the mediastinum was confirmed by histologic examinations (stainings) and the patient was discharged from the hospital without any significant complications.
Coloring Agents ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphangioma, Cystic ; Mediastinal Cyst ; Mediastinal Neoplasms ; Mediastinum* ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; Pericardium

BACKGROUND: Lymphangioma of the mediastinum is an uncommon benign tumor of lymphatic origin that is most often seen in children, is very rare in adults and is frequently discovered incidentally on chest x-ray exams. While radiology (CT and MRI) may suggest the diagnosis and allow an assessment of the operative difficulties, the histology of the surgical specimen is required for precise diagnosis. Complete resection is the only treatment; however, in some patients resection was incomplete because of the infiltrating character of these tumors, leading to recurrence. We report three cases of mediastinal lymphangioma with a review of the literature.
Adult* ; Child ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Lymphangioma* ; Mediastinal Neoplasms ; Mediastinum ; Recurrence ; Thorax

The middle mediastinum contains several important organs and pluripotent cells. It is difficult to make a definitive diagnosis in patients with middle mediastinal tumors due to a wide range of diseases. The likelihood of malignancy is influenced primarily by the following factors: patient age, size, tumor location, and the presence or absence of symptoms. We describe a case of a middle mediastinal tumor, which was suspected on chest x-ray; chest computed tomography revealed the eccentric mass of distal esophagus. This case emphasizes the diagnostic importance of the chest x-ray to the physicians. The possible differential diagnoses are reviewed.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Esophagus ; Humans ; Leiomyoma ; Mediastinal Neoplasms ; Mediastinum ; Thorax

The benign teratoma is usually slow growing tumor, but we expirienced a case of primary huge mediastinal benign teratoma that had grown very rapidly, maximally during 3 years. The 14-year-old female patient was admitted to our hospital because of abnormal chest X-ray that showed 10x10cm sized well definded mass with multiple calcificactions. but the mass was not present in chest X-ray perfomed on 3 years prior to admission. Under the diagnosis of teratoma, complete surgical resection was done by the left thoracotomy. The result of pathology was benign teratoma.
Adolescent ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Mediastinal Neoplasms ; Pathology ; Teratoma* ; Thoracotomy ; Thorax

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the value of mediastinoscopy in diagnosing unknown mediastinal disease and staging of lung cancers.

METHODSFrom October 2000 to August 2001, 41 patients were examined by cervical mediastinoscopy with or without anterior mediastinotomy for diagnostic and staging purposes. Of these 41 patients, 12 were for diagnosis of unknown mediastinal disease, 3 for diagnosis and staging of pulmonary nodule or mass clinically suspected to be malignancy and 26 for the staging of lung cancer.

RESULTSTen of 12 patients with unknown mediastinal disease were diagnosed pathologically as thymoma in 1, metastatic lesion from lung cancer in 1, metastatic thyroid carcinoma in 1, lymph node hyperplasia in 1, teratoma in 1, sarcoidosis in 1, inflammatory pseudotumor in 1 and tuberculosis in 3, giving a diagnostic rate of 83.3%. Of three patients with suspected malignancy, one was diagnosed as tuberculosis by cervical mediastinoscopy and the other two as lymphoma and pulmonary inflammatory pseudotumor by thoracoscopy and thoracotomy. The sensitivity and specificity of mediastinoscopy for the staging of mediastinal nodes in 26 lung cancers were 87.5% and 100%. Only one wound infection but no other major complication was found.

CONCLUSIONMediastinoscopy is a safe procedure which can accurately provide information on diagnosis and staging.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Male ; Mediastinal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Mediastinoscopy ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging

An 8-month old intact male Turkish Angora cat was referred to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH), Seoul National University, for an evaluation of anorexia and severe dyspnea. The thoracic radiographs revealed significant pleural effusion. A cytology evaluation of the pleural fluid strongly suggested a lymphoma containing variable sized lymphocytes with frequent mitotic figures and prominent nucleoli. The feline leukemia virus and feline immunodeficiency virus tests were negative. The cat was euthanized at his owner's request and a necropsy was performed. A mass was detected on the mediastinum and lung lobes. A histopathology evaluation confirmed the mass to be a lymphoma. Immunohistochemistry revealed the mass to be CD3 positive. In conclusion, the cat was diagnosed as a T-cell mediastinal lymphoma.
Animals ; Cat Diseases/*diagnosis/pathology ; Cats ; Lymphoma/diagnosis/pathology/*veterinary ; Male ; Mediastinal Neoplasms/diagnosis/pathology/*veterinary

Primary mediastinal choriocarcinoma is a very rare malignant tumor unrelated to pregnancy. Here a case of primary mediastinal choriocarcinoma was reported. The patient was a 13-year-old boy. He presented with shortness of breath, chest pain, fever, irritable cough and weight loss. The imaging examination showed a huge space-occupying lesion at the right edge of mediastinum. The autopsy results showed right lung and mediastinal choriocarcinoma cell carcinoma. After the introduction of the case, this paper reviewed the clinical characteristics, diagnosis and treatment of primary mediastinal choriocarcinoma.
Adolescent ; Choriocarcinoma, Non-gestational ; diagnosis ; pathology ; therapy ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Male ; Mediastinal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; therapy

Diagnosis, Differential ; Diarrhea ; etiology ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Mediastinal Cyst ; complications ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Mediastinal Neoplasms ; complications ; diagnosis ; Respiratory Sounds ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Treatment Outcome ; X-Rays

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the thymus is an extremely rare malignant mediastinal neoplasm, and to our knowledge, only 13 cases have been reported. We report a case of mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the thymus that was seen in a 53-yr-old man with right chest pain. Chest CT scan showed a huge, cystic mass having a focal solid portion with direct invasion of the adjacent anterior chest wall and pericardium in the anterior mediastinum. Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the thymus should be included in the differential diagnosis for masses of the anterior mediastinum associated with extensive cystic changes, although the carcinoma is exceedingly rare.
Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid/*diagnosis/pathology ; Fatal Outcome ; Humans ; Male ; Mediastinal Neoplasms/*diagnosis/pathology ; Middle Aged ; Thymus Neoplasms/*diagnosis/pathology

Aged, 80 and over ; Arterio-Arterial Fistula ; diagnosis ; Coronary Aneurysm ; diagnosis ; Coronary Disease ; diagnosis ; Diagnostic Errors ; Female ; Humans ; Mediastinal Neoplasms ; diagnosis