Cystic lymphangioma confined to mediastinum in an adult

Abstract

Mediastinal lymphangiomas are very rare tumors among the slow-growing mediastinal masses in the literature. We present the successful resection of a 52-year-old woman who was referred to our hospital. Past medical history consisted of surgical treatment for cervical mass and pathological diagnosis of lymphoma nine years earlier. She underwent postoperative radiotherapy. Preoperative chest roentgenogram and computed tomogram of the chest showed a cystic mass in the anterior mediastinum. The tumor was completely resected. The preoperative diagnosis was never questioned until the histopathological examination confirmed that the lesion was a cystic lymphangioma. Cystic lymphangiomas are benign tumors with the evidence of progression in tumor size and invasion into the vital structures. As our case shows, the tumor involvement with the vital structures causes difficulty in removal.