title: A giant infiltrating angiolipoma of the mediastinum: a case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Angiolipoma is a rare benign neoplasm composed of mature fatty tissue and multiple small abnormal blood vessels. Infiltrating mediastinal angiolipoma is an extremely rare tumor associated with delayed diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 42-year-old woman was presented with 3-month history of mild chest tightness. Imaging of the chest showed a large mass with fat densities in the middle superior mediastinum. A presumptive diagnosis was a tumor of liposarcoma. The patient was scheduled for a thoracotomy. After the excision, the symptoms were relieved and histological study revealed that the tumor was an angiolipoma. The patient recovered very well and was discharged 7 days after the surgery. After 7 months of follow-up the patient was clinically well and asymptomatic.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We described a giant infiltrating mediastinal angiolipoma and its removal, and discussed the tumor characteristics and prognosis. Although extremely rare, infiltrating angiolipoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of mediastinum lesions. The prognosis after surgical management of our patient is favorable.
authors.affiliation: Taishan Medical College, Taian, China.
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Shandong University School of Medicine, Jinan, China.
authors.forename: Wen-Cheng
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Che
authors.affiliation: Weifang Medical College, Weifang, China.
authors.forename: Huai-Jun
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shandong Qianfoshan Hospital, Jingshi Road No.16766 Lixia, Jinan, Shandong, China. qyjzm@outlook.com.
authors.forename: Zhong-Min
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018206:Angiolipoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D047368:Tumor Burden
keywords: Infiltrating angiolipoma; Mediastinum; Thoracotomy