Abstract
An 83-year-old man presented with worsening of respiratory discomfort and underwent close examination, which revealed a large mediastinal lipoma measuring 15 × 10 cm. The patient showed heart failure symptoms due to heart compression by tumor. The tumor was completely removed safely and reliably by cutting the ascending aorta, main pulmonary artery and superior vena cava. Although preoperative examination could not determine whether the tumor was lipoma or liposarcoma, we selected an invasive surgical therapy because neither radiation therapy nor chemotherapy was considered effective for either type of tumor. We report here a very rare case of heart-compressing mediastinal tumor.
Highlights
Mediastinal lipoma is a rare tumor of the mediastinum and causes few clinical symptoms [1]
Lipoma can occur in any soft tissues but is uncommon in the mediastinum, only accounting for 1.6-2.3% of all primary mediastinal tumors [2]
Lipoma is histologically diagnosed as a benign tumor and grows slowly, those growing and causing clinical symptoms should be considered clinically malignant strate allowed the patient to return to his daily activities without recurrence for at least 18 mon postoperation
Summary
Mediastinal lipoma is a rare tumor of the mediastinum and causes few clinical symptoms [1]. Even if diagnosed pathologically as benign, mediastinal lipoma causing clinical symptoms is considered clinically malignant. We achieved complete removal of a 15 × 10 cm large mediastinal lipoma by cutting the ascending aorta, main pulmonary artery and superior vena cava in a patient who developed heart failure due to heart compression by the tumor.
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