Faculty Collaboration Database

Primary mediastinal embryonal carcinoma masquerading as chronic pancreatitis. WMJ 2007 Jul;106(4):225-8

Date

09/12/2007

Pubmed ID

17844714

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-34548287492 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   1 Citation

Abstract

Primary mediastinal embryonal cell carcinomas are aggressive tumors commonly presenting between the ages of 20-50 years with pulmonary symptoms (e.g., cough, chest pain, and hemoptysis), as well as extrapulmonary symptoms due to pressure on adjacent structures. Here we describe a 72-year-old man who remained undiagnosed for a prolonged period of time because of intractable epigastric pain. The patient was thought to have chronic pancreatitis for several months until a chest computed tomography scan demonstrated the mass. This case exemplifies that embryonal cell carcinoma may present in older age groups. It also illustrates the importance of including mediastinal tumors in the differential diagnosis of chronic epigastric pain and the need for further investigations to identify these tumors.

Author List

Kaikobad M, Cheng YC, Choi H, Teves D

Authors

Yee Chung Cheng MD Associate Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Denise Teves Qualler MD Associate Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Aged
Biomarkers, Tumor
Carcinoma, Embryonal
Diagnosis, Differential
Humans
Male
Mediastinal Neoplasms
Pancreatitis, Chronic
Tomography, Emission-Computed
Tomography, X-Ray Computed