Korean J Med.  2014 Oct;87(4):466-470. 10.3904/kjm.2014.87.4.466.

A Case of Thymic Carcinoma Misdiagnosed as Epipericardial Fat Necrosis

• Song JH
• Cheon SS
• Kim NK
• Kim CY
• Bae MH
• Lee JH
• Yang DH

• KMID: 2269223
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3904/kjm.2014.87.4.466

Abstract

Epipericardial fat necrosis (EPFN) is an uncommon benign condition of unknown etiology. It presents as an unexplained acute severe pleuritic chest pain that is associated with the presence of a well-defined juxtacardiac mass usually located in or near the cardiophrenic angle. Although its typical clinical manifestations and chest computed tomography findings might lead to successful diagnosis of this rare disease, an unusual mass location such as the anterosuperior mediastinum should be considered and biopsies should be performed. We herein report a case of thymic carcinoma that was suspected initially to be EPFN.

Keyword

Fat necrosis; Pericardium; Thymus; Carcinoma

MeSH Terms

Biopsy
Chest Pain
Diagnosis
Fat Necrosis*
Mediastinum
Pericardium
Rare Diseases
Thorax
Thymoma*
Thymus Gland