Intimal angiosarcoma of the thoracic aorta diagnosed by endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration: a case report

BACKGROUND: Primary malignant tumors of the aorta are extremely rare. They are frequently located in the abdominal aorta, followed by the thoracic aorta. Sarcomas are the most common histological type. These tumors originate from the middle or intimal layer, the latter being the most common. Symptoms and radiological findings are generally nonspecific. Since their growth is endovascular, embolic phenomena can occur leading to occlusive signs and symptoms. CASE PRESENTATION: We describe the case of a 75-year-old Hispanic man, a former tobacco smoker, with a history of pain and epigastric tenderness, dysphagia, and weight loss of approximately 6 kg. A thorax computed tomography scan showed a mass within the posterior mediastinum with poorly defined borders and heterogeneous density, located between thoracic vertebra 5–8, with a size of 78 × 53 × 76 mm, with left main bronchus compression. Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration was performed; it found an extrinsic posterior compression of the left main bronchus with no endobronchial injury. An intimal angiosarcoma of the thoracic aorta was diagnosed. CONCLUSION: Tumors of the aorta are rare and difficult to diagnose; they are a challenge during the diagnosis, since they usually require open surgical procedures. Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration associated with rapid on-site examination offered, in this case, the possibility of a successful diagnosis, avoiding major procedures. This is the first case reported in the literature of an intimal angiosarcoma of the thoracic aorta diagnosed using endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration.