Posterior Mediastinal Neurofibroma

Abstract

Introduction: Neurofibromas are benign neurogenic tumors originating from Schwann cells and fibroblasts of the peripheral nerves sheaths. Between 40 % and 60 % of the tumors of the posterior mediastinum are neurofibromas and schwannomas. Their evolution is slow, which explains the large size observed at the time of diagnosis in some cases. They are usually detected as findings since most patients do not present symptoms, a fact that justifies their symptomatology by compression.

Objective: To present a patient diagnosed with posterior mediastinal neurofibroma in the province of Cienfuegos.

Case presentation: The case is presented of a 49-year-old patient with a healthy history and who began with pain in the left hemithorax, interpreted as pleuritic, with an evolution of 5 months; by means of thoracic radiography and computed axial tomography, a right paravertebral tumor was detected, to which a kerosene biopsy was performed, which determined the diagnosis of neurofibroma.

Conclusions: Masses in the posterior mediastinum are less frequent than those in the anterior mediastinum and are usually detected as a finding, since most patients do not present symptoms due to the fact that tumors in this location are of neurogenic origin.