[Effective glucocorticoid treatment in a case of idiopathic fibrosing mediastinitis].

A 54-year-old man was admitted to Saga University hospital with dyspnea on effort and a sensation of pressure in the chest. Chest CT images showed a low-density mass in the mediastinum surrounding the carina and left hilus, causing narrowing of both the left pulmonary artery and left main bronchus. The pathological findings from a surgical biopsy showed markedly fibrotic tissue with lymphocytes and plasmacytes, and we diagnosed idiopathic fibrosing mediastinitis, stage II. Oral glucocorticoid treatment of 30 mg/day prednisolone reduced the mass and improved the narrowing of the left pulmonary artery and left main bronchus. The patient was given low-dosage glucocorticoids as maintenance treatment. Previous reports indicated that idiopathic fibrosing mediastinitis with severe tissue fibrosis is difficult to control with glucocorticoid monotherapy. Here, we report a case of idiopathic fibrosing mediastinitis that was effectively treated with glucocorticoids.