Thoracic Cancer (Dec 2019)

Asymptomatic azygos vein overflow in a young patient with primary mediastinal seminoma

  • Raimondo Di Liello,
  • Francesca Sparano,
  • Maria Lucia Iacovino,
  • Giuseppe Viscardi,
  • Carminia Maria Della Corte,
  • Andrea Ronchi,
  • Rosa Laura Sabetta,
  • Morena Fasano,
  • Giovanni Vicidomini,
  • Alfonso Reginelli,
  • Fortunato Ciardiello,
  • Floriana Morgillo

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1111/1759-7714.13170
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10, no. 12
pp. 2308 – 2311

Abstract

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The azygos system is the most important pathway for decompression of the superior vena cava (SVC) when a blood flow obstruction to the right atrium is present. Thoracic and mediastinal malignancies, mainly lung cancers, are responsible for 60%–85% of superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) cases. An uncommon origin of SVCS is primary malignant mediastinal germ cell tumor (PMMGCT) which represent 1%–4% of all mediastinal tumors and can be divided into two broad groups: seminomas and nonseminomatous germ cell tumors (NSGCTs). Primary mediastinal seminomas clinical presentation is often nonspecific, even if the majority of patients present with superior vena cava involvement. Here, we present the radiologic features of asymptomatic azygos system overflow in a patient with primary mediastinal seminoma.

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