[Mediastinal tumour in children misdiagnosed as bronchial asthma].
METHODS
Three school children (2 girls and 1 boy, aged 9-15 years) complained about exercise-induced shortness of breath and stridor. The children were treated with inhalation steroids, one of them with systemic steroids, without a significant effect.


METHODS
Because of lack of treatment response a chest X-ray was done. In all cases a mediastinal mass was visible. No radiological signs of an obstructive pulmonary disease was demonstrated. In none of the three cases did a pulmonary function tests demonstrate an obstructive pulmonary disease.


METHODS
Bone marrow aspiration in one girl showed an acute lymphoblastic leukemia of T-cell immunophenotype with a large mediastinal lymphoma. Lymph node biopsy in the boy demonstrated a nodular sclerosing subtype of Hodgkin's disease. In the other girl a ganglioneuroma was found.


CONCLUSIONS
In children and adolescents a chest radiograph and pulmonary function tests should be performed if history and clinical signs are suggestive of bronchial asthma, before a specific inhalative or systemic treatment is started.
Ankermann
T
T
Klinik für Allgemeine Pädiatrie, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel. ankermann@pediatrics.uni-kiel.de
Claviez
A
A
Suttorp
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D002648:Child; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005260:Female; D005729:Ganglioneuroma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D015459:Leukemia-Lymphoma, Adult T-Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D014135:Tracheal Stenosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D017211:Treatment Failure
D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids