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Tuberculous mediastinal mass presenting with stridor in a 3-month-old child
Daniel A De Ugarte1, Nina L Shapiro, Holly L Williams
1Division of Pediatric Surgery, UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Journal of Pediatric Surgery
|April 5, 2003
Insights
A rare case of tuberculous mediastinal mass caused obstructive emphysema in an infant. Surgical removal resolved the infant's breathing difficulties, confirming tuberculosis as the cause.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Thoracic Surgery
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Intermittent stridor in infants can indicate serious airway obstruction.
- Mediastinal masses are uncommon in pediatric patients and require thorough investigation.
- Obstructive emphysema on chest x-ray necessitates evaluation for external airway compression.
Observation:
- A 3-month-old infant presented with intermittent stridor.
- Chest x-ray revealed obstructive emphysema.
- Further imaging identified a mediastinal mass compressing the carina and left mainstem bronchus.
Findings:
- The mediastinal mass was surgically excised.
- Histopathological examination confirmed the mass was of tuberculous origin.
- This diagnosis highlights a rare presentation of pediatric tuberculosis.
Implications:
- Early diagnosis and surgical intervention are crucial for managing airway compression by mediastinal masses.
- Tuberculosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pediatric mediastinal masses, even in low-prevalence settings.
- This case underscores the importance of comprehensive diagnostic workups for persistent respiratory symptoms in infants.
Abstract:
A 3-month-old boy with a history of intermittent stridor was found to have obstructive emphysema on chest x-ray. Further investigations found a mediastinal mass compressing the carina and left mainstem bronchus. The mass was excised and found to be of tuberculous origin.