Mediastinal Hemangioma Presenting with Recurrent Pleural Effusion- A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Abstract

Mediastinal hemangiomas are rare and benign vascular tumors. They commonly occur in the anterior mediastinum, with a few arising in the posterior mediastinum, and are typically found in young adults aged under 35. They are usually asymptomatic and incidentally detected on a routine chest radiograph. Other presentations, such as cough, chest pain, and dyspnea, are associated with invasion or compression to the adjacent structures. Radiographically, mediastinal hemangiomas usually present as a nonspecific mass. On computed tomography (CT), these tumors demonstrate characteristic “puddles” of contrast medium within the mass, following an intravenous contrast medium administration. The presence of phleboliths is virtually diagnostic. We present the case of an anterior mediastinal mass with recurrent pleural effusion mimicking advanced malignancy. After intravenous contrast medium administration, an enhancement of the mediastinal mass similar to the adjacent vascular structures was found on CT films, and a vascular origin was favored. The tumor was resected and proved to be a mediastinal cavernous hemangioma. We herein report this rare case and review the literature.