Abstract
Background: Myelolipoma is a rare benign tumor composed of hematopoietic elements and adipose tissue. It is a nonfunctional tumor that often presents as an infrequent mass, leading to potential misdiagnosis.
Case presentation: This case report presents the case of a 77-year-old man who was referred to the hospital due to a severe productive cough and dyspnea. The symptoms had begun three weeks prior. Radiological examinations, including chest computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), revealed the presence of bilateral paravertebral masses. A biopsy of the left posterior mediastinum tissue, performed under CT scan guidance, showed sheets of trilineage hematopoietic elements surrounded by adipose tissue, which was consistent with myelolipoma. Subsequently, surgical excision of the mass was performed. Pathological examination confirmed the mass as benign and confirmed the nature of myelolipoma.
Conclusions: Myelolipoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of mediastinal masses, as it is rare but possible. Differential diagnosis of myelolipoma, particularly from extramedullary hematopoiesis, is necessary.
Keywords
Myelolipoma, Extramedullary hematopoiesis, Mediastinal neoplasms, Case report