case_images: PMC9894716_01
case_images: Coronal sections of thoracic cavity from anterior (A)-to-posterior (D) planes.. The arrows in Figure 1B indicate that the lower trachea was compressed by a mediastinal mass. The asterisk in Figure 1D indicates that the lower esophagus was compressed and laterally widened with distal constriction.
case_images: cureus-0015-00000033322-i01.jpg
case_images: PMC9894716_01_cureus-0015-00000033322-i01.jpg
case_images: FIG1
case_images: Coronal CT sections of the thoracic cavity showed that the lower trachea was compressed by a soft mediastinal mass (Figure 1A and Figure 1B, bidirectional arrow). The bilateral bronchi were patent (Figure 1C). The lower esophagus was compressed and laterally widened with distal constriction (Figure 1D). Supporting the large liver volume detected by CT (Figure 1D), the enlarged fatty liver weighed 2,755 g.
case_images: Sagittal section of the trachea and esophagus.. The area encircled by a dotted line indicates that the lower trachea had been compressed between the thoracic vertebrae and upper mediastinal soft tissue. Asterisk indicates the compressed esophagus, and arrow indicates the direction of compression.
case_images: cureus-0015-00000033322-i02.jpg
case_images: PMC9894716_01_cureus-0015-00000033322-i02.jpg
case_images: FIG2
case_images: Sagittal CT sections showed that the lower trachea had been compressed between the thoracic vertebrae and upper mediastinal soft tissue (Figure 2; encircled by a dotted line). The autopsy findings revealed that the soft mediastinal mass observed on CT (Figure 2 and Figure 3) was fatty tissue and that the thymus (weighing 65 g) had been largely replaced with fatty tissue (Figure 5).
case_images: Axial sections of the thoracic cavity arranged from the upper (A) to lower (F) directions.. The area encircled by a dotted line indicates that the lower trachea had been compressed between the thoracic vertebrae and upper mediastinal soft tissue. Arrows indicate the trachea and main bronchus.
case_images: cureus-0015-00000033322-i03.jpg
case_images: PMC9894716_01_cureus-0015-00000033322-i03.jpg
case_images: FIG3
case_images: The autopsy findings revealed that the soft mediastinal mass observed on CT (Figure 2 and Figure 3) was fatty tissue and that the thymus (weighing 65 g) had been largely replaced with fatty tissue (Figure 5).
case_images: Histological sections of the heart (A, B, C) and the lung (D).. Myocardial fragmentation and waving on the heart sections reflected hypercontraction and hyperrelaxation, respectively (A and B). The wall of the small intra-myocardial artery was thickened (C). The pulmonary section showed aspirated materials with bacterial packets, without an inflammatory reaction (D).
case_images: cureus-0015-00000033322-i04.jpg
case_images: PMC9894716_01_cureus-0015-00000033322-i04.jpg
case_images: FIG4
case_images: Myocardial fragmentation and waving on the heart sections reflected hypercontraction and hyperrelaxation, respectively (Figure 4A and Figure 4B). The wall of the small intra-myocardial artery was thickened (Figure 4C), consistent with diabetic micro-circulatory dysfunction. The pulmonary section showed aspirated materials with bacterial packets, without an inflammatory reaction (Figure 4D).
case_images: Thymus. The thymus is generally fatty, but partially preserved.
case_images: cureus-0015-00000033322-i05.jpg
case_images: PMC9894716_01_cureus-0015-00000033322-i05.jpg
case_images: FIG5
case_images: The autopsy findings revealed that the soft mediastinal mass observed on CT (Figure 2 and Figure 3) was fatty tissue and that the thymus (weighing 65 g) had been largely replaced with fatty tissue (Figure 5).