Physical examination trumps mediastinoscopy in diagnosing maffucci syndrome: a rare cause of mediastinal mass.

WE report a patient who presented with a large thoracic mass but who avoided a potentially catastrophic procedure when the anesthesiologist suggested a simple skin biopsy as an alternative to biopsy via a mediastinoscope. Maffucci syndrome is a rare cause of mediastinal mass, but the principles at play in this case report are common and important and highlight the role of the anesthesiologist as consultant.