A diaphragmatic tumor mimicking gastric neoplasm: a clinical case report

The vast majority of patients with tumors arising from the diaphragm do not have any specific clinical symptoms, therefore, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are the techniques required for the diagnosis. This is particularly relevant when a pathological mass has grown to an extent producing a “mass effect” on the adjacent organs. In some cases, clinical symptoms of arise due to the local invasion of the neoplasm to the adjacent tissues or distant metastases. We present a rare clinical case of a mesenchymal diaphragmatic tumor in a 34-year-old patient. After a review of her clinical status and imaging of the abdomen, including CT and MRI, the preliminary diagnosis of the gastric neoplasm of uncertain behavior (D37.1) was made, despite the initial diagnostic assumption of the exogastric location of the mass based on MRI. After careful consideration of the diagnostic assessment results, a multidisciplinary decision was made to perform laparoscopic resection of the mass. The intraoperative finding was a tumor originating from the left diaphragmatic cupula with no involvement of the stomach. The patient's recovery was uneventful. Pathological examination revealed a solitary calcifying fibrous tumor of the diaphragm. This clinical case shows that a mass arising from the diaphragm can mimic one arising from the gastric fundus, leading to an incorrect diagnosis and subsequent inappropriate management.

Right diaphragm metastasis of endometrial cancer: a case report

A diaphragmatic tumor is usually caused by metastasis from lung cancer, malignant mesothelioma, and malignant thymoma. Endometrial cancer is rarely involved in metastasis to the diaphragm. A right anterior mediastinal tumor was found in a 60-year-old woman who was initially diagnosed with endometrial carcinoma. There was initially no relationship between the right anterior mediastinal tumor and endometrial carcinoma. Radical curative surgery was performed for endometrial carcinoma. The endometrial carcinoma stage was IA. The patient was admitted to the Department of Thoracic Surgery 6 months after the curative surgery. Intraoperative exploration showed a tumor growing in the right diaphragm. Right diaphragmotomy was performed. Immunohistochemistry showed metastasis of endometrial carcinoma to the diaphragm. Endometrial cancer solitary metastasis to the diaphragm is rare. Clinicians should be aware of this possibility. Surgical treatment followed by a pathological examination is the most useful method for determining the diagnosis of a diaphragmatic tumor due to metastasis of endometrial cancer.

Low-Grade Fibromyxoid Sarcoma: A Rare Case in an Unusual Location

Introduction Low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma, also known as Evans tumor, is a low-grade sarcoma that most commonly arises in the deep soft tissue of the proximal extremities or trunk in young adults. It is very rare in the viscera as a primary site with only a few cases reported in the literature. Here we present a case of Evans tumor occurring in an unusual and rarely reported location: the mediastinum. Method A 32-year-old male presented with history of persistent cough, and subsequent imaging revealed a left diaphragmatic tumor measuring around 11 cm with associated chest wall implants. Grossly, the tumor was well circumscribed, arising from the parietal pleura with attachment to both lung and diaphragm and focally involving visceral pleura with no extension into the underlying lung parenchyma. Histologically, the tumor was composed of uniform and bland-appearing spindle cells interspersed among large areas of hyalinized rosettes, so-called giant rosettes. By immunohistochemistry, the tumor was positive for EMA, bcl-2, TLE-1, and MUC-4 and negative for STAT-6, ruling out solitary fibrous tumor. FISH for SYT gene rearrangement was performed and was negative, ruling out synovial sarcoma. Given the overall morphology and the phenotype, the final diagnosis was low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma with giant collagen rosettes (also known as hyalinizing spindle cell tumor with giant rosettes). Conclusion Mediastinal low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma is a rare entity that should be considered in the differential diagnosis of visceral soft tissue tumors. Pathologic examination and a thorough immunohistochemical and molecular workup play a vital role in establishing this rare and challenging diagnosis.

Usefulness of Plain Computed Tomography with Swallowing of GastrografinTM for the Diagnosis of a Late-Onset Iatrogenic Diaphragmatic Hernia following Biopsy of a Diaphragmatic Tumor: Report of a Case

Although diaphragmatic hernia (DH) may be congenital, posttraumatic, or iatrogenic, DHs after diaphragmatic surgery are rarely reported in the literature. This report describes the rare case of a 14-year-old girl complicated by iatrogenic DH following the biopsy of granulomatous lesions of the left diaphragm, when a mediastinal mixed germ cell tumor was extirpated. Plain computed tomography (CT) with swallowing of GastrografinTM was useful for the diagnosis of this disorder. The patient presented to our hospital with frequent epigastric pain and vomiting 11 months after the original surgery. Chest X-ray, a gastrointestinal contrast study, and plain CT with swallowing of GastrografinTM revealed the left DH with gastric content. At laparotomy, the diaphragmatic defect, 3 × 3 cm in diameter, was repaired using nonabsorbable sutures after hernia reduction. The patient showed a rapid recovery with complete resolution of symptoms. We should consider the presence of iatrogenic DH in patients who develop epigastralgia after procedures involving the diaphragm, even at 11 months after the original surgery. Furthermore, plain CT with swallowing of GastrografinTM is useful for the diagnosis of this disorder.

Imaging of a Rare Case of Diaphragmatic Tumor

ABSTRACT Primary tumors of the diaphragm are quite rare. About 150 cases have been reported in the literature. Fibrosarcomas are the most common malignant neoplasms of the diaphragm; however, only a few (less than 20) cases have been reported to date. We present a case of an extremely rare tumor of the diaphragm. A 65-year-old woman presented with history of vague upper abdominal pain since 2 months and distension for 2 weeks. Ultrasonography features were in favor of a mass arising from left dome of diaphragm with evidence of vascularity on Doppler; lesion was displacing spleen inferiorly. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan of the abdomen revealed a mass located in the region of the left dome of diaphragm and deriving blood supply from the branches of abdominal aorta. Surgical excision was planned, keeping in mind the diagnosis of a left diaphragmatic tumor. Laparotomy revealed a left diaphragmatic tumor growing caudally into the upper abdomen. How to cite this article Anand S, Suresh N, Reddy AK, Shukla AK. Imaging of a Rare Case of Diaphragmatic Tumor. J Med Sci 2017;3(1):25-27.