Mediastinal Cystic Hemangioma Presenting as Bilateral Bloody Pleural Effusion: A Case Report

A 58-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of dyspnea, dysphagia, and back pain. A chest roentgenogram showed bilateral pleural effusion. Bloody fluid was aspirated via thoracocentesis, but no malignancy was detected on cytological examination. Computed tomography revealed a hypodense circular mass approximately 8 cm in diameter with well-defined margins in the posterior mediastinum. Furthermore, T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging showed the lesion to be a hyperintense mass. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery was performed, and the tumor was diagnosed as a mediastinal cystic hemangioma. The bilateral bloody pleural effusion was attributed to the cystic tumor. (J Nippon Med Sch 2012: 79: 381-384)