Azygos vein varix mimicking mediastinal mass in a patient with liver cirrhosis: a case report.
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.
Lee
Shih-Yi
SY
Department of Internal Medicine, Mackay Memorial Hospital, 92 Sec 2, Chung-Shan North Rd, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
Kuo
Hsu-Tah
HT
Peng
Ming-Jen
MJ
Lin
Fung-J
FJ
Shih
Shou-Chuan
SC
Sheu
Chin-Yin
CY
Lin
Ching-Chi
CC
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*