title: Mediastinal thymoma invading the superior vena cava and the right atrium.
abstract: An 86-year-old male patient presented with a large mediastinal tumor. A needle biopsy was performed and revealed a diagnosis of invasive thymoma. Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) angiography was performed in order to assess operability of the tumor. This showed a heterogeneously enhancing anterior mediastinal mass. The tumor had invaded the left brachiocephalic vein, presumably via the inferior thymic veins, which is a known feature of these tumors. The thymoma grew then endovenously through the superior vena cava into the right atrium. A pacemaker lead was completely encased by tumor tissue. The patient was deemed inoperable and underwent radiation therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Virginia Health System, VA 22908, USA.
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aladdin
authors.forename: Ugur
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Bozlar
authors.forename: Ulku C
authors.initials: UC
authors.lastname: Turba
authors.forename: Irving L
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Kron
authors.forename: Hossam
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Klaus D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Hagspiel
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000473:pathology*; D006338:Heart Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D013945:Thymoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D014683:Vena Cava, Superior / Q000473:pathology*