Isolated mediastinal Hodgkin's disease mimicking thymoma: report of a case

Mediastinal Hodgkin's disease has rarely been reported in the literature in Japan; however, it is not uncommon in Europe and North America. A 32-year-old woman with isolated mediastinal Hodgkin's disease mimicking thymoma is herein described. A preoperative diagnosis of thymoma led to a combined resection of the mediastinal tumor together with the entire thymus, left innominate vein, and left phrenic nerve. The resected tumor was histologically diagnosed to be Hodgkin's disease of the nodular sclerosis type. Adjuvant 40 Gy irradiation of the mediastinum and neck was added postoperatively. The patient is doing well at present with no signs of recurrence 8 months after the operation.