An Anterior Mediastinal Tumor Detected after Esophagectomy and was Difficult to Diagnose—A Case Report—

Abstract

The patient was a 56-year-old female who had subtotal esophagectomy and ileocolic reconstruction for esophageal cancer (pT1bN0M0, Stage I) two years previously. A small tumor at the anterior mediastinum was unexpectedly found by a follow-up enhanced CT scan and it gradually enlarged with time. Further examination including EUS-FNA for the ileum used for reconstruction could not make diagnosis and a possibility of recurrence of esophageal cancer could not be ruled out, so we performed operation for diagnostic treatment. Histopathological examination showed a desmoid tumor. No signs of recurrence have been seen.

Desmoid tumors are considered benign and, therefore, carry no malignant potential ; they never metastasize. However, they tend to infiltrate into the adjacent tissue. Although there are many cases of mesenteric desmoid tumor after abdominal surgery, desmoid tumor arisen in the ileum mesentery after reconstruction has not been described in the literature. We must bear in mind that a desmoid tumor can affect the ileum used for reconstruction.