Journal Information
Vol. 53. Issue 1.
Pages 30 (January 2017)
Clinical Image
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A Big Heart! Or Not?
Cardiomegalia, ¿o no?
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Margarida Torres Redondoa,
Corresponding author
margarida.tredondo@gmail.com

Corresponding author.
, João Macielb, Pedro Bastosb
a Pulmonology Department, Centro Hospitalar de São João, Porto, Portugal
b Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, Centro Hospitalar de São João, Porto, Portugal
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A 39-year-old Caucasian woman, former smoker (6 pack-years), was referred to the outpatient clinic with an abnormal chest X-ray that revealed a large opacity obscuring the heart border (silhouette sign), as shown in Fig. 1. Chest tomography was performed and showed a large mass occupying much of the thoracic cavity. Histological evaluation of the lesion revealed findings that suggested a thymoma. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed no invasion of neighbouring structures. The patient underwent a bilateral thoracotomy, with excision of a 3.9kg thymolipoma. The chest X-ray performed after the surgery, as shown in the image, revealed complete expansion of both lungs.

Fig. 1.

(A) Chest X-ray (posteroanterior) revealed a large opacity obscuring the heart border (silhouette sign). (B and C) Chest MRI and CT showing a large heterogeneous mass overlying the heart. (D) Chest X-ray (posteroanterior) after surgical excision showing lung expansion.

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Please cite this article as: Torres Redondo M, Maciel J, Bastos P. Cardiomegalia, ¿o no? Arch Bronconeumol. 2017;53:30.

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