[Giant mediastinal neurilemoma. A case report].

BACKGROUND

Mediastinal neurilemmoma is an infrequent and a big size neoplasm in the posterior mediastinum. There are usually no symptoms. When there is a pressure against nerves or vascular structures, it can be dangerous for the life. The main problem of this tumors is the diagnosis: surgical approach and the complete resection without injuring vital mediastinal structures.

CLINICAL CASE: We report a case in a 29-year-old male with a giant mediastinal neurilemmoma. He had chest pain for two months. Chest rays showed opacity in the left chest. A broncofiberscopy, computed tomography and transthoracic biopsy were performed. Finally, the patient had a left posterolateral thoracotomy.

CONCLUSIONS

The giant mediastinal neurilemmoma is a benign and asymptomatic neoplasm in most cases. When the symptoms are present, they are nonspecific. We should rule out other pathologies. The intraoperatory fiberscopy is useful for the resection of small mediastinal tumours.