Aortic coarctation in the presence of capillary hemangioma
İrfan Taşoğlu1, Kanat Özışık, Şeref Alp Küçüker
1Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Turkiye Yuksek Ihtisas Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. irfantasoglu@yahoo.com
Insights
Posterior mediastinal hemangioma, a rare tumor, can mimic aortic coarctation. This case highlights the importance of considering hemangioma in diagnosing aortic coarctation, especially in younger patients.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Surgery
- Pediatric Oncology
- Diagnostic Imaging
Background:
- Coarctation of the aorta is a congenital narrowing of the aorta.
- Mediastinal masses can present with various cardiovascular complications.
- Hemangiomas are benign vascular tumors that can occur in various locations.
Observation:
- A 14-year-old female presented with symptoms suggestive of aortic coarctation.
- Imaging revealed an extensive hemangioma involving the thoracic aorta.
- The patient had complex coarctation of the aorta.
Findings:
- Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) identified mediastinal hemangioma and aortic coarctation.
- Surgical intervention included an extra-anatomical bypass from the ascending to the descending aorta.
- Histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of hemangioma.
Implications:
- Mediastinal hemangiomas are a rare but critical differential diagnosis for coarctation of the aorta.
- Early recognition and appropriate management are crucial for patients with this rare association.
- This case underscores the need for comprehensive evaluation in complex pediatric cardiovascular cases.
Abstract:
We report posterior mediastinal hemangioma in a 14-year-old girl patient with an extensive hemangioma encompassing the thoracic aorta, associated with complex coarctation. The masses were identified by contrast-enhanced computed tomography. An extra-anatomical bypass was made by grafting from the ascending to the distal descending aorta. Histological evaluation of the surgical specimens established the final diagnosis. Presence of mediastinal hemangiomas should be regarded as an important differential diagnosis of coarctation of aorta, although these are very rare tumors.
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