[Mid mediastinal lipoma--a case report]

Mediastinal lipomas are relatively rare neoplasm in Japan. They are generally asymptomatic tumors because they often arise from anterior mediastinum especially nearby diaphragma. We experienced a 67-year-old man who presented with transient edema on the face and upper limbs. The phlebography showed compression of left brachiocephalic vein, superior vena cava and right pulmonary artery by the tumor. The sagittal view of the chest MRI gave precise and useful anatomical informations. The complete resection of the tumor was performed uneventfully. The tumor was 15 x 12 x 5 cm in size, and there was no secondary change at the superior vena cava. Postoperative chest CT showed the complete decompression of the superior vena cava. The pathological diagnosis of the tumor was benign mature lipoma. Postoperative course was uneventful and the patient is now being well. There is no evidence of recurrence 6 months after the operation. This is the first report of the mediastinal lipoma which arised from the mediastinum in Japanese literature as far as we have reviewed.