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Mediastinal lymphangioma in an infant
1Department of Pediatrics, Taipei Municipal Women and Children's Hospital, Taipei.
Insights
Mediastinal lymphangioma is a rare tumor in young children. This case highlights a 17-month-old girl with recurrent respiratory issues due to a growing mediastinal mass, successfully treated with surgery.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Thoracic Surgery
- Diagnostic Imaging
Background:
- Lymphangiomas are rare congenital vascular malformations.
- Mediastinal lymphangiomas are exceptionally uncommon in infants under two years old.
- Recurrent respiratory symptoms in infants can indicate serious underlying pathology.
Observation:
- A 17-month-old female presented with recurrent respiratory distress.
- Imaging revealed a progressively enlarging, cystic, multiloculated mediastinal mass.
- The mass was located in the anterior and superior mediastinum, encasing great vessels.
Findings:
- Surgical resection via left thoracotomy was performed.
- Pathologic examination confirmed a cavernous lymphangioma.
- The patient experienced an uneventful postoperative recovery.
Implications:
- This case underscores the importance of considering rare mediastinal tumors in infants with respiratory symptoms.
- Early diagnosis and surgical intervention are crucial for favorable outcomes.
- Cavernous lymphangioma should be included in the differential diagnosis of pediatric mediastinal masses.
Abstract:
Lymphangioma confined exclusively to the mediastinum occurs rarely in patients under 2 years of age. A 17-month-old girl presented with recurrent respiratory symptoms and signs. Chest radiographs taken at 9 and 17 months of age showed a large mediastinal mass, which had increased in size during the interval. Sonography revealed the mass to be cystic and multiloculated. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a heterogeneous mass lying in the anterior and superior mediastinum and enveloping the great vessels. The child underwent a left thoracotomy and the tumor was almost completely removed. The pathologic diagnosis was cavernous lymphangioma. The postoperative course was uneventful. Lymphangioma, though rare, should be considered in the differential list of mediastinal tumors and cysts in infants.