Mediastinal angiomyolipomas in a male patient affected by tuberous sclerosis

Abstract

Classical angiomyolipomas are benign tumours composed of various tissues, including components of fat, abnormal blood vessels and smooth muscle cells. They are often found in association with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). The present study reports a male patient affected by TSC with intermittent, massive chylous pleural effusions, who developed recurrent mediastinal angiomyolipomas. The tumours were characterised via histological and immunohistochemical methods. Although angiomyolipomas frequently occur in the kidneys of TSC patients, this case is the first report of mediastinal angiomyolipomas associated with TSC. Besides lymphangioleiomyomatosis, this differential diagnosis has to be taken into account in the case of chylous pleural effusions and mediastinal masses in tuberous sclerosis complex patients. Copyright©ERS Journals Ltd 2008.