Thoracoscopic resection for mediastinal thymolipoma in a child

Abstract

Thymolipoma is a rare disease among benign tumors. We herein report the case of a child who underwent thoracoscopic resection of a large thymolipoma. A 3-year-old boy was diagnosed with an anterior mediastinal solid tumor. Thoracic imaging revealed a fat density mass that was 8.0 × 5.0 × 3.5 cm in size. Given the MRI findings of the tumor, we suspected that the lesion was a teratoma. We decided to perform thoracoscopic exploration and, if possible, resection of the solid tumor sequentially. We successfully resected the tumor thoracoscopically. A histological examination revealed thymolipoma. For large mediastinal tumors in the intrathoracic space in children, the thoracoscopic approach is recommended when the tumor is preoperatively considered to be benign and resectable.

Keywords: Child; thoracoscopic resection; thymolioma.