title: Staphylococcal isolated anterosuperior mediastinal abscess of unknown origin.
abstract: Mediastinal abscess is a rare presentation of infections involving the mediastinum. In rare cases, the origin of the infection cannot be identified. We report a case of a 32-year old male who was presented with a mediastinal abscess with an otherwise clear history. The origin of the infection could not be identified despite extensive investigations. The patient was operated through a cervical incision. His postoperative recovery was uneventful. Rare causes of mediastinal infections should not be overlooked from the diagnostic process even if the origin of infection cannot be identified.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Evangelismos Hospital, Athens, Greece. kouritas@otenet.gr
authors.forename: Vasileios K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Kouritas
authors.forename: Charalambos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zissis
authors.forename: Ion
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bellenis
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008477:Mediastinal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D019616:Thoracic Surgical Procedures; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents