Cavernous mediastinal hemangioma presenting with persistent cough: a rare case report and review of literature

Abstract

Background Cavernous hemangioma is a rare benign tumor which can sometimes mimic the clinical presentation and radiological findings of malignant tumors. Here we present a rare presentation of cavernous hemangioma in the mediastinum (CHM), along with a literature review among the main databases. Case presentation We present a 48-year-old male who had suffered from persistent cough as the sole symptom of an anterior CHM. Computed tomography scan demonstrated a 12.5 × 10.8 cm mass in the anterior mediastinum. The mass was surgically resected, and histopathological evaluation established the diagnosis of CHM. The patient was discharged in good condition, in which during his four-month follow-up period, no recurrence of the tumor has been observed. Conclusion Although cavernous hemangioma rarely present in the mediastinum, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of mediastinal tumors. However, our review of literature demonstrated a female dominance and average age of 40 years, with a 52% mortality rate based on previous reports.

Venous Malformation in the Anterior Mediastinum

“…Imaging diagnosis poses a challenge because of its rarity and nonspecific clinical manifestations, often leading to diagnosis after total tumor resection [8]. VMs undergo a continuous cycle of spontaneous thrombosis and thrombolysis, with persistent thrombi potentially calcifying and forming phleboliths, which are considered pathognomonic but present in only 30% of radiographs [6,9].…”