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Superior Mediastinal Syndrome Misdiagnosed as Foreign Body Aspiration: A Case Report
Tabinda Naz Qureshi1, Mirza Amanullah Beg2, Syed Rizwan Haider3
1Child Health Department, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman.
Insights
Superior mediastinal syndrome in children is a critical oncological emergency. Prompt diagnosis and treatment of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia are vital to prevent severe outcomes, as highlighted by a misdiagnosed case.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Hematology
- Emergency Medicine
Background:
- Superior mediastinal syndrome (SMS) is a critical pediatric oncological emergency.
- High index of suspicion is crucial to avoid misdiagnosis and adverse outcomes.
- Common pediatric causes include non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia.
Abstract:
Superior mediastinal syndrome is a life-threatening pediatric oncological emergency that requires high level of awareness and clinical suspicion to avoid misdiagnosis and devastating outcomes. Early diagnostic evaluation and management of underlying etiology are of utmost significance for optimal results. In children, it is most commonly caused by non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia. We report a case of a six-year-old boy with superior mediastinal syndrome secondary to T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, initially misdiagnosed as foreign body aspiration and underwent a procedure with a life-threatening outcome.
