Affiliations: Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota,
Amplatz Children's Hospital, MN, USA | Department of Radiology, University of Minnesota,
Amplatz Children's Hospital, MN, USA | Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of
Minnesota, Amplatz Children's Hospital, MN, USA
Note: [] Correspondence: Lazaro E. Hernandez, MD, 2450 Riverside Ave;
East Building, Room MB545, Minneapolis, MN, USA. Tel.: +1 612 626 7691; Fax: +1
612626 8228; E-mail: herna426@umn.edu
Abstract: Anterior mediastinal abscesses of non-traumatic etiology are
extremely rare in childhood and their presentation can be variable. We describe
the unusual case of a previously healthy 10 year old boy who presented to the
emergency department with chest pain and fever. Patient was found to have an
anterior mediastinal abscess caused by Staphylococcus aureus. Even though
surgical drainage was performed with significant clinical and laboratory
improvement, patient developed secondary sternal osteomyelitis motivating a
longer course of intravenous antibiotic therapy (for a total of 7 weeks). We
discuss the etiology, diagnosis and therapeutic options of anterior mediastinal
masses in children, drawing comparison with similar cases previously reported.
