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[Mid mediastinal lipoma--a case report]
T Nomimura1, T Takahashi, Y Kato
1Department of Surgery, Hiroshima General Hospital of West Japan Railway Company, Japan.
[Zasshi] [Journal]. Nihon Kyobu Geka Gakkai
|April 1, 1996
Summary
A rare mediastinal lipoma causing vein compression was successfully resected in a 67-year-old man. This case highlights the importance of MRI in diagnosing and surgically managing these benign tumors.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Thoracic Surgery
- Diagnostic Imaging
Background:
- Mediastinal lipomas are uncommon neoplasms, typically asymptomatic due to their location in the anterior mediastinum.
- Compression of mediastinal structures can lead to significant clinical manifestations.
Observation:
- A 67-year-old male presented with transient facial and upper limb edema, indicative of vascular compromise.
- Phlebography revealed compression of the left brachiocephalic vein, superior vena cava, and right pulmonary artery by a mediastinal tumor.
- Chest MRI provided crucial anatomical detail for surgical planning.
Findings:
- Surgical resection of a large (15 x 12 x 5 cm) benign mature lipoma was performed without complications.
- Postoperative imaging confirmed complete decompression of the superior vena cava.
- Pathological diagnosis confirmed a benign mediastinal lipoma.
Implications:
- This case underscores the diagnostic utility of MRI in evaluating mediastinal masses.
- Complete surgical resection is an effective treatment for symptomatic mediastinal lipomas.
- This represents the first reported case of a symptomatic mediastinal lipoma in Japanese literature.