Iranian Journal of Pathology

Mediastinal and Chest Wall Masses in Children: A Single Institution Study

Document Type : Original Research

Authors

Mitra Mehrazma1 1
Soraya Salehi 2
Shokrollah Yousefi 3
Selaheddin Delshad 4
Ahmad Jalilvand 3
Alireza Hasanpour 1

1 Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

2 Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

3 Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

4 Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Abstract
Background and Objective: Mediastinal masses in children are a heterogenous group of asymptomatic potentially life-threatening congenital, infectious, or neoplastic lesions that present complex diagnostic and therapeutic dilemmas. Materials and Methods: The clinical and laboratory features of 65 patients who had open biopsies in Ali-Asghar hospital over 11 years were reviewed. Results: Seventy-two percent of cases were male and 28% were female. The age varied between 2.5 months and 19 years. Eighty-four percent of lesions were malignant and 16% were benign. Neurogenic tumors were the most common (36.9%). In order of frequency the following lesions were the most common neuroblastoma (mostly in posterior mediastinum), Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (mostly in middle mediastinum), and malignant small round cell tumor (mostly in chest wall). Most patients were presented by fever (21.5%), dyspnea (20%) and cough (12%), especially in Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Lymphadenopathy (29.2%) and hepatosplenomegaly (13.8%) were the most frequent clinical signs. Laboratory examination revealed anemia (29%), leukocytosis (35%), and high sedimentation rate (21.5%). Conclusion: The clinical presentation and laboratory findings of mediastinal and chest wall masses are often non-specific and are variable, but according to their clinical data (i.e. age) and location, only few important diagnoses should be considered.
 

Keywords

Mediastinal
Chest wall
Mass
Children
Iranian Journal of Pathology
Volume 1, Issue 4 - Serial Number 4
Autumn 2006
Pages 155-160

  • Receive Date 28 September 2014

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