Giant mediastinal haemangiopericytoma: an uncommon case

Haemangiopericytoma is a rare soft tissue tumour characterised by tightly packed tumour cells situated around thin walled endothelial lined vascular channels, ranging from capillary sized vessels to large gaping sinusoidal spaces. The tumour cells are surrounded by reticulin and are negative for muscle, nerve and epithelial markers. The diagnosis of extra-pulmonary intra-thoracic, extra-pleural mediastinal mass is difficult. It constitutes only 6% of all primary tumours and cysts of the mediastinum. We report the rare occurrence of primary intra-thoracic, extra-pulmonary mediastinal haemangiopericytoma of mesenchymal origin with perivascular localisation. The patient underwent right postero-lateral thoracotomy and post-operatively received chemotherapy with adriamycin (60 mg/m2) on day 1 and ifosfamide (1.5 g/m2) on day 1 to 3. Thirty-seven months after the operation, the patient has been well with evidence of a single recurrence in the left lower lobe.