What Are Mediastinal Masses?
Mediastinal tumors are common clinical diseases of the chest, including primary tumors and metastatic tumors. Primary mediastinal tumors include tumors and cysts produced by various tissue structures in the mediastinum, but do not include benign and malignant tumors from the esophagus, trachea, bronchus, and heart. Metastatic tumors are more common, most of which are lymph node metastases. Mediastinal lymph node metastatic lesions are more common in primary lung malignancies, such as bronchial cancer. Malignancies originating in the esophagus, breast, and abdomen are most common in those outside the lungs.
- English name
- mediastinal tumor
- English alias
- primary mediastinal
- Visiting department
- Thoracic Surgery
- Common locations
- Mediastinum
- Common causes
- Primary and metastatic tumors
- Common symptoms
- Shortness of breath, dry cough; difficulty swallowing; edema of the face, neck, and upper chest and venous irritation
Basic Information
Clinical manifestations of mediastinal tumors
- Some cases may have no obvious clinical symptoms. Larger tumors may cause corresponding clinical symptoms due to compression or invasion of important organs in the mediastinum: if the trachea is compressed, shortness of breath and dry cough; compression of the esophagus may cause difficulty swallowing; The vena cava causes edema of the face, neck, and upper chest, and venous irritation; compression of the nerves may include signs of diaphragm palsy, hoarseness, intercostal neuralgia, and sympathetic nerve compression.
Mediastinal tumor examination
- X-ray, CT and other imaging examinations are helpful for diagnosis.
Mediastinal tumor diagnosis
- Diagnosis is mainly based on the area where it grows in the mediastinum, the density of the tumor, and its relationship with neighboring organs.
Mediastinal tumor treatment
- The treatment of mediastinal tumors usually requires surgery. Malignant tumors must undergo necessary radiation and chemotherapy after surgery.