title: Azygos vein varix mimicking mediastinal mass in a patient with liver cirrhosis: a case report.
abstract: A giant venous varix of the azygos arch is a very rare cause of a mediastinal mass. The usual diagnosis of a mediastinal mass by mediastinoscopy or percutaneous fine-needle aspiration or biopsy is very hazardous if there is a venous varix. Noninvasive thoracic CT scanning is a safe and better choice for diagnosis. We describe the case of a woman with a posterior mediastinal mass caused by a giant azygos vein varix. Thoracic CT documented the diagnosis. The etiology of the azygos varix was portal hypertension secondary to liver cirrhosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Mackay Memorial Hospital, 92 Sec 2, Chung-Shan North Rd, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Shih-Yi
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hsu-Tah
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.forename: Ming-Jen
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Fung-J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Shou-Chuan
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.forename: Chin-Yin
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Sheu
authors.forename: Ching-Chi
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D001401:Azygos Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004945:Esophagoscopy; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications; D008477:Mediastinal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*