Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41168826›Full record

ReviewWorld journal of surgical oncology2025

Clinical characteristics and surgical management of rare thoracic myelolipoma: experience from a single center with literature review.

Zeguang Ye, Xi Wu, Can Fang, Mingchuang Zhu, Peng Xiong, Min Zhu

Abstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in World journal of surgical oncology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Zeguang YeDepartment of Thoracic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, China.
Xi WuDepartment of Thoracic Surgery, The Quzhou Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Quzhou People's Hospital, Quzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Can FangDepartment of Thoracic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, China.
Mingchuang ZhuDepartment of Thoracic Surgery, Shanxi Hospital Affiliated to Cancer Hospital, Cancer Hospital, Shanxi Province Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China.
Peng XiongEmergency Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
Min ZhuDepartment of Thoracic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, China. mzhu@tjh.tjmu.edu.cn.

Funding

Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province 2023AFB776
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMyelolipoma is a rare benign tumor composed of mature adipose and hematopoietic tissue, most commonly occurring in the adrenal glands. Thoracic myelolipoma is extremely uncommon, particularly when originating in the lung or chest wall, and is frequently misdiagnosed due to its nonspecific clinical and radiological features. This study aimed to retrospectively characterize the clinical, imaging, pathological, and surgical features of thoracic myelolipoma and to conduct a comprehensive literature review to improve understanding of this rare entity.

methodsThirteen cases of thoracic myelolipoma diagnosed at Tongji Hospital between October 2015 and January 2025 were retrospectively reviewed. Data collected included patient demographics, clinical presentation, imaging characteristics, surgical approach, histopathology, and outcomes. Additionally, a comprehensive literature review was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library, covering reports published from 1960 to 2025. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis.

resultsThirteen patients were included (mean age: 57.2 ± 8.0 years; 6 men). Nine patients (69.2%) presented with tumors in the posterior mediastinum, and four (30.8%) had tumors in the lung. Most lesions were well-circumscribed and incidentally detected. Eleven patients (84.6%) underwent uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), and all cases were histopathologically confirmed as myelolipoma. No recurrence or metastasis was observed over a mean follow-up period of 40.5 ± 31.0 months. The literature review identified 71 additional cases with comparable clinical characteristics. Among the 33 patients with available follow-up, no recurrence or metastasis was reported.

conclusionsThoracic myelolipoma is a rare, indolent tumor that is often discovered incidentally and is generally associated with a favorable prognosis following complete surgical resection. VATS represents a minimally invasive and effective approach, offering both diagnostic and therapeutic benefits. Conservative observation may be appropriate for asymptomatic patients with characteristic imaging findings. However, surgical intervention is recommended when clinical symptoms are present or malignancy cannot be ruled out. Further large-scale studies with extended follow-up are warranted to refine management strategies.

Indexed as

MyelolipomaThoracic NeoplasmsThoracic Surgery, Video-AssistedAdultAgedFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansMaleMiddle AgedPrognosisRetrospective StudiesLiterature reviewMediastinal myelolipomaPulmonary myelolipomaThoracic myelolipomaVideo-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS)

Identifiers

PMID41168826
PMCPMC12573938

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.