Korean J Radiol.  2009 Oct;10(5):527-530. 10.3348/kjr.2009.10.5.527.

CT Findings of an Ectopic Pancreas in the Anterior Mediastinum

• Chen ZH
• Yu RS
• Dong F
• Wang XJ

• KMID: 1093971
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/kjr.2009.10.5.527

Abstract

We report here on a rare case of an ectopic pancreatic tissue in the anterior mediastinum. A 32-year-old woman without any symptoms was transferred to our hospital because of an abnormal large mediastinal shadow on her chest radiograph during a checkup. The computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a giant cystic-solid mass that measured 16 x 13 x 8 cm and it was located in the center of the anterior mediastinum and it symmetrically grew to two sides. On enhanced CT scans, the solid component of the mass showed marked enhancement. We performed total surgical resection of the mass and complete pancreatic tissues were verified on the pathological examination.

Keyword

Mediastinum; Ectopic pancreas; Radiography; Computed tomography (CT)

MeSH Terms

Adult
Choristoma/*radiography/surgery
Diagnosis, Differential
Female
Humans
Mediastinal Diseases/*radiography/surgery
*Pancreas
Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 32-year-old woman without symptoms and who had mediastinal ectopic pancreas. A. On posteroanterior chest radiography, huge shadow in mediastinum extends to two lung fields with well-defined margins. B. Precontrast CT scan shows giant cystic-solid mass located in anterior mediastinum compresses next to aorta and superior vena cava, and solid lesion obscures aorta, superior vena cava and main pulmonary trunk. C. On postcontrast CT scan, solid lesion demonstrates marked enhancement with mean CT attenuation value of 130 HU (arrow). D. Solid lesion displays complete pancreatic tissues with normal acinar structures and islets of pancreas (Hematoxylin & Eosin staining; original magnification ×200).

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