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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2002;21:943-945
© 2002 Elsevier Science NL

Case report

Primary leiomyosarcoma of the anterior mediastinum

Atilla Erolu^a*, Can Kürkçüolu^a, Nurettin Karaolanolu^a, Nesrin Gürsan^b

^a Department Of Thoracic Surgery, Medical Faculty, Atatürk University, 25240 Erzurum, Turkey
^b Department of Pathology, Medical Faculty, Atatürk University, 25240 Erzurum, Turkey

Received 22 November 2001; received in revised form 1 February 2002; accepted 6 February 2002.

* Corresponding author. Tel.: +90-442-316-6333x2182; fax: +90-442-316-6340
e-mail: atilaeroglu{at}hotmail.com

Primary mediastinal leiomyosarcoma are extremely rare tumors, which develop from smooth muscle, usually in the esophagus or main vessels. Very few cases have been reported in the literature and only two of these developed from small vessels in the soft tissue of the anterior mediastinum. We report on a 45-year-old man who presented with a huge anterior mediastinal tumor. The tumor was surgically removed with right thoracotomy and the diagnosis of well-differentiated leiomyosarcoma was established. It probably originated from the anterior mediastinal tissue, so at operation a continuity was not found between the tumor and neighboring structures. This rare and interesting histopathology is discussed and the literature is reviewed.

Key Words: Leiomyosarcoma • Mediastinum • Mesenchymal tumor