Cavernous hemangioma of the anterior mediastinum: case report and 50-year review of Japanese cases.

Hemangioma is a rare tumor of the mediastinum. We report a case of cavernous hemangioma of the anterior mediastinum that was incidentally detected by chest radiography during a routine health check. A mass lesion was seen in the anterior mediastinum on computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the chest. Because a thymoma with cystic degeneration was suspected preoperatively, extended thymectomy was performed. The tumor was confined to the left lobe of the thymus without invasion into the adjacent structures. It measured 42x32x17 mm, and was completely resected without any major bleeding. Pathological examination led to the diagnosis of cavernous hemangioma. A total of 61 cases of mediastinal hemangioma, including our case, reported in Japan over the past 50 years are reviewed.