Localized pleural mesothelioma preoperatively diagnosed as anterior mediastinal tumor, report of a case

Abstract

A 56-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital showing an abnormal left pulmonary hilar shadow on a chest X-ray film.
Further examinations, including a 3D CT scan, led to a diagnosis of anterior mediastinal tumor. The tumor was removed and found to be a localized pleural mesothelioma attached to the visceral pleura with a stalk. It was difficult to preoperatively diagnose whether the tumor was located in the mediastinum or the pleural space. Retrospective opinion was that MRI was more useful than CT scan in defining this tumor.