Affiliation:
1. National Cancer Center Hospital
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial cryobiopsy (EBUS-cryobiopsy) is advantageous for collecting larger specimens with minimal crushing; however, it has not been widely used for mediastinal tumors.
Case presentation:
A 73-year-old woman with a history of left breast cancer underwent surgery, followed by radiotherapy. Computed tomography showed a mass in the anterior mediastinum that was in extensive contact with the sternum on the ventral side and partly with the trachea on the dorsal side. Two computed tomography-guided needle biopsies (CTNBs) were performed on the mass; however, a definitive diagnosis was not made because of severe crush artifacts. Subsequently, we performed EBUS-cryobiopsy and safely obtained sufficient specimen volume with minimal crushing. The histopathological diagnosis was adenocarcinoma, with immunobiological features distinct from those of previous breast cancers. Her overall diagnosis was a rare tumor originating in the anterior mediastinum.
Conclusions
EBUS-cryobiopsy can be safely performed in narrow areas surrounded by major blood vessels, and the obtained specimens may be superior to CTNBs for histopathological diagnosis.
Publisher
Research Square Platform LLC