Mediastinal fibromatosis presenting with superior vena cava syndrome

We encountered a fatal case of mediastinal fibromatosis in a 67-year-old female in whom there was aggressive infiltration into the large vessels, nerves and pericardium. She presented with the superior vena cava syndrome, Horner's syndrome, paralysis of bilateral vocal cords and diaphragm and heart failure. Mediastinoscopical examination revealed an extremely firm tumor adhering to the sternum, trachea and brachiocephalic artery. She died of severe heart failure due to the disturbed dilatation of the heart and ventilatory insufficiency. Although mediastinal fibromatosis is very uncommon and sometimes difficult to diagnose at an early stage, physicians should be aware of this disease for the differential diagnosis of mediastinal tumors.