Anterior mediastinal mass - thymoma

Case contributed by Amr El-Talla
Diagnosis almost certain

Presentation

Worsening cough of unknown duration.

Patient Data

Age: 65 years
Gender: Male

Chest X-ray demonstrates a large anterior mediastinal mass that appears to be projecting over the right hilum. Lateral X-ray confirms anterior mediastinal mass with obliteration of retrosternal airspace.

Case Discussion

Given the patient's presenting symptoms and imaging findings of an anterior mediastinal mass on chest X-ray, a non-exhaustive differential for this case could include a thymic neoplasm, thyroid neoplasm, germ cell tumor (such as a teratoma or seminoma), or lymphoma. These pathologies are known to frequently occur in the anterior mediastinal compartment. This patient was eventually found to have a biopsy-proven thymoma necessitating surgical resection.

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