A surgical case of giant mediastinal tumor in a child associated with rib deformity

A five-year-old boy was admitted, complaining of a persistent cough. Chest film showed a smooth round mass in right mediastinal region and deformity of 6th rib. CT studies revealed the presence of a well-defined mass with low density. Pulmonary arteriography demonstrated hypovascularity in right pulmonary field. Preoperative diagnosis was a benign neurogenic tumor originated from intercostal nerve located at the posterior mediastinum. At operation, a large round smooth mass was found adhered to chest wall and, in part, parietal pleura, and it was removed completely. The sixth rib with deformity was also resected partly. The specimen measured 9.5 x 5.0 x 4.0 cm and weighed 175 g. Histopathological findings demonstrated that the tumor proved to be ganglioneuroma.