The mediastinum is a cavity that separates the lungs from the other structures in the chest. Generally, mediastinum is divided into 3 main parts: anterior, posterior, and middle. The borders of the mediastinum include the thoracic inlet superiorly, the diaphragm inferiorly, the spine posteriorly, the sternum anteriorly, and the pleural spaces laterally. Structures contained within the mediastinal cavity include the heart, aorta, esophagus, thymus, and trachea. The obtrusiveness of cancer and the severity of its signs and symptoms are dependent on its behavior within this visceral network. Cancers in the mediastinum can develop from structures anatomically located inside the mediastinum or that transverse through the mediastinum during development and also from metastases or malignancies originating elsewhere in the body.
Definitive diagnosis of mediastinal cancer is typically made by mediastinoscopy with biopsy. This test is generally done under general anesthesia and collects cells from the mediastinum to determine the type of mass present. The treatment for mediastinal cancers depends primarily on the type of cancer, its location, aggressiveness, and symptoms it may be causing.
Copyright © 2024, StatPearls Publishing LLC.