Mediastinal epithelioid haemangioendothelioma: a rare mediastinal tumour

Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg. 2010 Jan;10(1):122-4. doi: 10.1510/icvts.2009.216978. Epub 2009 Oct 15.

Abstract

We report the case of a 35-year-old patient with an incidental finding of an asymptomatic large (9.5 cm in diameter) anterior mediastinal tumour. Radiological findings favoured the diagnosis of a benign mediastinal teratoma. During surgical resection, we found a tumour adhering to the surrounding tissues, and encompassing the innominate vein which was totally occluded. Total tumoural exeresis was performed as well as the double cross-section of the innominate vein. Postoperatively, there was no left upper limb swelling, probably because of a chronic occlusion of the innominate vein. The hospital stay was uneventful. Immunohistochemistry diagnosed a mediastinal 'epithelioid haemangioendothelioma', which is a tumour of vascular origin. We believe that the tumour took origin from the innominate vein and invaded the anterior mediastinum. After a simple radiological follow-up, the patient is in complete remission 30 months after the operation. We present the case of this patient with the iconography, along with a review of the available literature concerning mediastinal epithelioid haemangioendotheliomas.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Brachiocephalic Veins / diagnostic imaging
  • Brachiocephalic Veins / pathology*
  • Brachiocephalic Veins / surgery
  • Diagnostic Errors
  • Hemangioendothelioma, Epithelioid / diagnostic imaging
  • Hemangioendothelioma, Epithelioid / pathology*
  • Hemangioendothelioma, Epithelioid / surgery
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Incidental Findings
  • Male
  • Mediastinal Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Mediastinal Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Mediastinal Neoplasms / surgery
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Sternotomy
  • Teratoma / diagnosis
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vascular Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Vascular Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Vascular Neoplasms / surgery
  • Vascular Surgical Procedures