| Title | Tumour presenting as a retrosternal abscess following median sternotomy. | | Author(s) | Martin IR, Jowett NI | | Institution | Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Withybush General Hospital, Pembrokeshire, Wales. | | Source | Br J Clin Pract 1997 Apr-May; 51(3):185. | | MeSH | Abscess
Adenocarcinoma
Aged
Coronary Artery Bypass
Diagnosis, Differential
Fatal Outcome
Female
Humans
Mediastinal Neoplasms
Neoplasms, Unknown Primary
Postoperative Complications
Sternum
| | Abstract | A 73-year-old lady, who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting eight months previously, presented with rigors and chest pain. The upper sternum was tender, swollen and erythematous, suggesting a retrosternal abscess. Radiological investigation supported the clinical diagnosis. Local infections following median sternotomy are uncommon, most being early and superficial. Late infections are very uncommon, and should suggest alternative pathology. Following open surgical drainage, histology showed the mass to be a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. The primary tumour was never found. | | Language | eng | | Pub Type(s) | Case Reports
Journal Article
| | PubMed ID | 9293066 |
|
