title: Thoracic melioidosis: a diagnostic dilemma.
abstract: The diagnosis of melioidosis can be difficult, and it is frequently described as "the great mimicker". We report a case of thoracic melioidosis presenting as a mediastinal mass with impending superior vena cava obstruction. With the presumptive diagnosis of mediastinal tumor, the patient underwent surgery for tissue sampling, and a purulent collection was found. The clinical syndromes of melioidosis and the diagnostic dilemma are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Townsville Hospital, Queensland, Australia warraicch@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Omer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ashraf
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Townsville Hospital, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Anand
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iyer
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Townsville Hospital, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Ramya
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Krishnan
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Townsville Hospital, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Sumit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yadav
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001706:Biopsy; D016957:Burkholderia pseudomallei / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004322:Drainage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008554:Melioidosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D013479:Superior Vena Cava Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted; D013908:Thoracotomy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: Anti-bacterial agents; burkholderia pseudomallei; melioidosis; northern Territory; superior; vena cava