title: Thymic cyst causing superior venacava syndrome relieved by mediastinoscopy--a rare presentation.
abstract: Superior venacava obstruction is most often caused by intrathoracic malignant masses. The commonest cause of benign superior venacava obstruction is fibrosing mediastinitis. A thymic cyst causing marked superior venacava obstruction is very rare and has not been reported. We hereby present a case of a 40-year-old man with such a finding who presented with chest pain and facial congestion. Evaluation revealed a mediastinal mass causing marked superior venacaval obstruction. He underwent a mediastinoscopy, which showed a cyst. It was drained following which there was complete resolution of symptoms post-operatively. Histopathology of the lesion confirmed a thymic cyst.
authors: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Fremantle Hospital, Alma Street, Fremantle, WA, Australia. anandcvts@hotmail.com
authors: Anand P
authors: AP
authors: Iyer
authors: Dinesh
authors: D
authors: Sadasivan
authors: Sumit
authors: S
authors: Yadav
authors: Sanjay
authors: S
authors: Sharma
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008476:Mediastinal Cyst / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D008481:Mediastinoscopy; D013479:Superior Vena Cava Syndrome / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*