Image-guided aspiration of a cystic mediastinal teratoma: A case report and literature review

Abstract

A 51-year-old male presented to our tertiary referral hospital with progressive shortness of breath and orthopnea. A computed tomography (CT) of the chest was performed that showed a large cystic middle mediastinal mass. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the chest demonstrated a large, well-circumscribed, T2-hyperintense cystic middle mediastinal mass resulting in significant compression of the trachea, brachiocephalic artery, superior vena cava, and azygos vein. The patient subsequently developed a right hemispheric stroke due to compression of the brachiocephalic artery and was too clinically unstable to undergo or definitive operative management of the mediastinal cyst. Percutaneous CT-guided aspiration of the cystic middle mediastinal mass was performed, with successful decompression resulting transient improvement in mass-effect on the surrounding mediastinal structures. Six days after successful aspiration of the mass, the patient underwent attempted bronchoscopy for management of tracheobronchial secretions which was complicated by massive pulmonary hemorrhage leading to cardiopulmonary arrest and death. An autospy was conducted, revealing pathological finding consistent with a mature cystic teratoma.

Keywords

• Cystic mediastinal lesion
• Teratoma
• Stroke
• Bronchial hemorrhage
• Aspiration