MYXOID LIPOSARCOMA OF THE ANTERIOR MEDIASTINUM - DIAGNOSIS BY FINE-NEEDLE ASPIRATION BIOPSY

The mediastinum is an uncommon primary site of liposarcoma, which cons titutes < 1% of tumors at that site. We report a case of myxoid liposa rcoma evaluated with fine needle aspiration biopsy in a 66-year-old ma le who presented with cardiac tamponade, superior vena cava syndrome a nd radiologic evidence of a large anterior mediastinal mass. Cytologic ally the neoplastic cells were strikingly dyscohesive, with ovoid or s pindle-shaped, hyperchromatic nuclei. The cytoplasm was abundant and o ften finely vacuolated with lipid. They were associated with a promine nt myxoid, intercellular substance and distinct, arborized capillary s tructures. Survival is influenced by the tumor cell type and different iation. The overall prognosis seems to be poorer than that of liposarc omas occurring in other areas. To the best of our knowledge, this is t he first reported case of primary mediastinal liposarcoma diagnosed by fine needle aspiration biopsy.