Localized malignant mesothelioma in the middle mediastinum: Report of a case
Thursday, July 10th, 2008.
Surgery Today. 2008;38(7):635-8. Epub 2008 Jul 9. [Link]
Akamoto S, Ono Y, Ota K, Suzaki N, Sasaki A, Matsuo Y, Hayashi K.
Department of Surgery, Jyuzen General Hospital, Ehime, Japan.
Abstract
Localized malignant mesothelioma in the mediastinum is rare and most known cases have been reported as “localized malignant pericardial mesothelioma.” We report a case of a middle mediastinal tumor, which we were able to resect completely. Histopathological examination of the tumor confirmed that it was a malignant epithelial lymphohistiocytoid mesothelioma. We assumed that the tumor was derived from the pericardium. Local recurrence was detected 1 year after resection, and the patient died of the disease about 2 years later.
Keywords: Localized malignant mesothelioma – Middle mediastinal tumor – Lymphohistiocytoid mesothelioma
Glossary
- resection
- surgery to remove part or all of an organ or other structure.
- recurrence
- cancer that has come back after treatment. Local recurrence is when the cancer comes back at the same place as the original cancer. Regional recurrence is when the cancer appears in the lymph nodes near the first site. Distant recurrence is when it appears in organs or tissues (such as the lungs, liver, bone marrow, or brain) farther from the original site than the regional lymph nodes. Metastasis means that the disease has recurred at a distant site.
- tumor
- an abnormal lump or mass of tissue. Tumors can be benign (not cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).
- mesothelioma
- a tumor derived from mesothelial tissue, such as the peritoneum (lining the abdomen) or pleura (lining the lungs). More on mesothelioma.
