Preoperative Embolization of a Posterior Mediastinal Lipid-Poor Angiolipoma Mimicking a Paravertebral Nerve Sheath Tumor

Ann Thorac Surg. 2015 Aug;100(2):705-7. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2014.09.076.

Abstract

Mediastinal angiolipomas are extremely rare tumors within the thorax, and only 6 cases have been previously reported in the literature. We describe the case of a lipid-poor angiolipoma within the posterior mediastinum of a 63-year-old man who complained of chest pain. Interestingly, initial imaging of the posterior mediastinal mass of our patient suggested a nerve sheath tumor. A specimen from a percutaneous transthoracic core needle biopsy confirmed an angiolipoma. We decided to preoperatively embolize the posterior mediastinal mass to reduce intraoperative bleeding and to facilitate the excision of the tumor.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Angiolipoma / diagnosis*
  • Angiolipoma / therapy*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Embolization, Therapeutic*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mediastinal Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Mediastinal Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Middle Aged
  • Nerve Sheath Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Preoperative Care*