MEDIASTINAL LYMPHANGIOMA IN AN INFANT

Lymphangioma confined exclusively to the mediastinum occurs rarely in patients under 2 years of age. A 17-month-old girl presented with recu rrent respiratory symptoms and signs. Chest radiographs taken at 9 and 17 months of age showed a large mediastinal mass, which had increased in size during the interval. Sonography revealed the mass to be cysti c and multiloculated. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a hetero geneous mass lying in the anterior and superior mediastinum and envelo ping the great vessels. The child underwent a left thoracotomy and the turner was almost completely removed. The pathologic diagnosis was ca vernous lymphangioma. The postoperative course was uneventful. Lymphan gioma, though rare, should be considered in the differential list of m ediastinal tumors and cysts in infants.