A giant infiltrating angiolipoma of the mediastinum: a case report

BACKGROUND: Angiolipoma is a rare benign neoplasm composed of mature fatty tissue and multiple small abnormal blood vessels. Infiltrating mediastinal angiolipoma is an extremely rare tumor associated with delayed diagnosis. CASE PRESENTATION: A 42-year-old woman was presented with 3-month history of mild chest tightness. Imaging of the chest showed a large mass with fat densities in the middle superior mediastinum. A presumptive diagnosis was a tumor of liposarcoma. The patient was scheduled for a thoracotomy. After the excision, the symptoms were relieved and histological study revealed that the tumor was an angiolipoma. The patient recovered very well and was discharged 7 days after the surgery. After 7 months of follow-up the patient was clinically well and asymptomatic. CONCLUSIONS: We described a giant infiltrating mediastinal angiolipoma and its removal, and discussed the tumor characteristics and prognosis. Although extremely rare, infiltrating angiolipoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of mediastinum lesions. The prognosis after surgical management of our patient is favorable.