Extensive fibrotic wrapping of the heart: a rare echocardiographic diagnosis.

BACKGROUND

Fibrosing mediastinitis (FM) is considered a benign disease, but it can be fatal if progression leads to compression of the hilum of the lungs or invasion of the heart. Echocardiographic reports of this disease are very rare.

CASE PRESENTATION: We present a 14-year-old male patient whose non-enhanced chest computed tomography showed unclear soft-tissue dense lesions in the anterior superior mediastinum. Echocardiography showed the heart was extensively wrapped by soft tissue lesions. The histology confirmed FM.

CONCLUSIONS

When FM affects the heart, echocardiography can help to characterize the disease and aid in the diagnosis. Echocardiography should be considered an important tool to follow the progression of this disease and guide the therapeutic approach.