title: [An unusual mediastinal mass].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Primary mediastinal tumors are rare diseases including a broad spectrum of pathologies ranging from the well-known, such as lymphoma, thymoma or germ-line tumors to some very unusual presentations.
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe a solitary mediastinal mass compressing the bronchial and vascular system in a patient suffering from chronic dyspnea. Diagnosis, obtained by means of a CT-guided biopsy, was a melanoma without any sign of a primary cutaneous lesion which harbored the BRAF V600E mutation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An exclusive mediastinal presentation of a malignant melanoma is exceptional and, in the context of BRAF mutation needs to be considered and diagnosed given the potential therapeutic impact.
authors.affiliation: Service de pneumologie, unité d'oncologie cervico-thoracique, hôpital Larrey, université Paul-Sabatier, CHU de Toulouse, chemin de Pouvourville, 31059 Toulouse cedex, France. Electronic address: emilie.bousquet@live.fr.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bousquet
authors.affiliation: Service de pneumologie, unité d'oncologie cervico-thoracique, hôpital Larrey, université Paul-Sabatier, CHU de Toulouse, chemin de Pouvourville, 31059 Toulouse cedex, France.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pontier
authors.affiliation: Service de pneumologie, unité d'oncologie cervico-thoracique, hôpital Larrey, université Paul-Sabatier, CHU de Toulouse, chemin de Pouvourville, 31059 Toulouse cedex, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hermant
authors.affiliation: Service d'anatomo-pathologie, hôpital Rangueil, CHU de Toulouse, 31059 Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rouquette
authors.affiliation: Service de dermatologie, hôpital Larrey, CHU de Toulouse, 31059 Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.affiliation: Service de pneumologie, unité d'oncologie cervico-thoracique, hôpital Larrey, université Paul-Sabatier, CHU de Toulouse, chemin de Pouvourville, 31059 Toulouse cedex, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Didier
authors.affiliation: Service de pneumologie, unité d'oncologie cervico-thoracique, hôpital Larrey, université Paul-Sabatier, CHU de Toulouse, chemin de Pouvourville, 31059 Toulouse cedex, France.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mazieres
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged
keywords: BRAF; Bronchial stent; Mediastinal mass; Melanoma; Mélanome; Prognosis; Pronostic; Stent bronchique; Tumeur du médiastin