J Korean Surg Soc.  2010 Mar;78(3):192-194. 10.4174/jkss.2010.78.3.192.

Mediastinum Anthracosis Resembling Metastatic Carcinoma from Thyroid Gland

• Lee YS
• Hong SW
• Nam KH
• Chung WY
• Chang HS
• Park CS

• KMID: 2211948
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4174/jkss.2010.78.3.192

Abstract

The differential diagnosis of mediastinal lymph node enlargement is mandatory, since the diagnosis of mediastinal lymph node enlargement covers a broad spectrum of diseases including inflammatory reactions, infections, and cancer metastases. We describe here a 51-year-old woman with anthracosis in mediastinal lymph node, mimicking metastatic carcinoma from the thyroid gland.

Keyword

Anthracosis; Mediastinum; Papillary thyroid carcinoma; Metastasis

MeSH Terms

Anthracosis
Carcinoma
Diagnosis, Differential
Female
Humans
Lymph Nodes
Mediastinum
Middle Aged
Neoplasm Metastasis
Thyroid Gland
Thyroid Neoplasms
Carcinoma
Thyroid Neoplasms

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Cervical ultrasonography (A) and computed tomography (B) showing ill-defined, heterogeneous, large mass in the right supraclavicular fossa (CCA = common carotid artery; IJV = internal jugular vein).

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  Fig. 2 Histopathologic findings of lymph node. The lymph node was revealed as reactive lymphoid hyperplasia and diffuse anthracosis (H&E, ×12.5). The pigmented area revealed many macrophages containing dark brown granular anthracotic pigment (inset; H&E, ×400).

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