Cavernous hemangioma of the thymus A case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Rationale: Cavernous hemangioma is a congenital venous malformation with the potential to develop in all tissues of the body. However, cavernous hemangioma of the thymus is extremely rare. Patient concerns: The present study describes the case of an asymptomatic, 30-year-old female who presented with a cavernous hemangioma in the thymus during a physical examination. Enhanced computed tomography of the chest revealed a 2.3 1.7 1.3 cm mass in the thymus. Diagnoses: Histopathological examination revealed that the tumor exhibited the typical histological findings of a cavernous hemangioma. Interventions: The patient underwent surgical resection due to the uncertain diagnosis and the possibility that the mass was a thymoma or teratoma. Outcomes: One-year post surgery, the patient was alive with no evidence of tumor recurrence. Lessons: Cavernous hemangioma of the thymus is a very rare disease. Complete surgical resection may be a critical therapeutic option. Abbreviations: CT = computed tomography, MRI = magnetic resonance imaging, VATS = video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery.