Extensive mediastinal thymolipoma mimicking pulmonary edema

Abstract

Thymolipoma is a rare benign slow-growing encapsulated tumor of anterior mediastinum that accounts for 2–9% of all thymic neoplasms. About 30–50% of them are asymptomatic and found incidentally. Less than 200 cases have been published in the world literature so far. Here we report a case of thymolipoma of an adult female presented with progressive dyspnea, chest tightness and non-productive chough for 2-month duration. All blood investigations were normal. Radiological examinations suggested the presence of fat and soft tissue within the tumor without invading the neighboring structures. We concluded that the only curative treatment of thymolipoma is surgical excision. Unfortunately, the patient did not give consent despite telling her the outcomes if we do not do the surgical procedure, and a week later she passed away due to respiratory distress secondary to the mass effect of the tumor.

A rare case of giant mediastinal thymolipoma in an 18‐year man

“…Conditions such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia, myasthenia gravis, aplastic anemia, hyperthyroidism, and Hodgkin's disease have been found to be associated with this tumor. Complete surgical excision remains the preferred choice for treatment 1 . We hereby present a case of a patient with a substantial mediastinal mass that was confirmed to be a thymolipoma.…”

“…Complete surgical excision remains the preferred choice for treatment. 1 We hereby present a case of a patient with a substantial mediastinal mass that was confirmed to be a thymolipoma. The case was introduced based on the exceptional rarity and monumental size of a mediastinal mass.…”

“…It is comprised of mature adipose cells and thymic tissue. Thymolipoma represents a proportion of 2%–9% among all thymic neoplasm 1 …”

“…Thymolipoma represents a proportion of 2%-9% among all thymic neoplasm. 1 With a slow growth pattern, these tumors are commonly identified when they generate symptoms of pressure or are incidentally detected during the assessment of other complaints. 2 Conditions such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia, myasthenia gravis, aplastic anemia, hyperthyroidism, and Hodgkin's disease have been found to be associated with this tumor.…”

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“…Thymolipomas diagnosis certification is based on microscopy, performed in most cases after the surgical excision of the mediastinal tumor mass. However, preoperative imagistic, such as chest radiography (X-ray), thoracic computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may orientate the diagnosis [56][57][58]. Thus, thymolipomas show typical well-delimitated, bulky, pendulous, teardrop-shaped, radiolucent mass, in anterior mediastinum on chest X-rays [15,59], with a changing shape when patient's position is modified [59].…”