Pseudo-heart failure in pregnancy complicated by preeclampsia: giant mediastinal teratoma with extrinsic cardiopulmonary compression.

Authors

Jose Lopez Ventosa, Josean Reyes, Alex Cedeño, Marcel Mesa Pabon

Published in

BMJ case reports. Volume 19. Issue 8. Aug 12, 2026. Epub Aug 12, 2026.

Abstract

A woman in her early 20s at 30 weeks of gestation presented with elevated blood pressure, transaminitis, progressive dyspnoea, orthopnoea, exertional chest pain and peripheral oedema, raising concern for preeclampsia-associated cardiopulmonary disease or peripartum cardiomyopathy. Transthoracic echocardiography showed preserved left ventricular systolic function, normal left-sided filling pressures, right ventricular dilatation and an estimated right atrial pressure of 15 mmHg; N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide was 57 pg/mL. Cross-sectional imaging revealed a large multi-cystic anterior mediastinal mass occupying the left hemithorax, displacing the heart and abutting/compressing major cardiopulmonary structures. Labour was induced at 34 weeks after clinical stabilisation. Three months postpartum, the patient re-presented with worsening dyspnoea and haemoptysis and underwent complete surgical resection. Pathology confirmed mature cystic teratoma and cardiopulmonary symptoms resolved after resection.

PMID:
42586591
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 13 Aug 2026.

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