Anaplastic carcinoma involving the mediastinum.

Abstract

The clinical, radiologic, and pathologic findings of eleven patients who initially presented with mediastinal masses are reviewed. The histologic appearance of these tumors is identical to various types of anaplastic carcinoma of the lung; nevertheless, a discrete endobronchial origin could not be demonstrated. With the exception of one case, the masses appeared at the approximate level of the aortic arch and were generally bilateral. The absence of hemoptysis in all cases is significant. The inclusion of anaplastic carcinoma in the differential diagnosis of anterior or middle mediastinal masses is stressed.