Idiopathic Fibrosing Mediastinitis Causing Extensive Fibrotic Veno-occlusion with Minimal Mediastinal Involvement

Abstract

A 68-year-old woman was admitted after suffering facial edema with neck vein engorgement for approximately 2 months. A chest X-ray showed a mild widening of the superior mediastinum and a luminal obliteration of the superior vena cava(SVC) was noted on a computed tomograph. Venography showed that both subclavian veins were obstructed at the level of the proximal clavicle with a nonvisualization of the SVC. The SVC, both the innominate and the left internal jugular veins were completely obstructed with extensive cord-like fibrotic changes despite the absence of mediastinal involvement. The microscopic features showed a chronic granulomatous inflammation with a fibrosis minimally invading the mediastinal fat, which is consistent with fibrosing mediastinitis.