Mediastinal tumor

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Masses in the anterior portion of the mediastinum can include thymoma, lymphoma, and germ cell tumors including teratoma. Lung cancer typically spreads to the lymph nodes in the mediastinum.

Anterior mediastinal compartment, also known as anterosuperior compartment, is anterior to the pericardium. Masses in this area is more likely to be malignant than those in other compartments Most common masses found here include thymomas, germ cell tumors, lymphomas, thyroid tissue, and parathyroid lesions.

Most common primary anterior mediastinal tumor (20%) in adults but rarely seen in children. It can be classified as lymphocytic, epithelial, or spindle cell histologies, but this is not very significant clinically. Tonofibrils seen under electron microscopy can differentiate thymoma from other tumors such as carcinoid, Hodgkin’s, and seminoma. Patients are usually asymptomatic but can present with myasthenia gravis-related symptoms, substernal pain, dyspnea, or cough. Invasive tumors can produce compression effects such as superior vena cava syndrome.

Thymomas are diagnosed with CT or MRI revealing mass in anterior mediastinum.

Therapy in stage I tumors consists of surgical resection with good prognosis.

Stage II-III requires maximal resection possible followed by radiation.

Stage IV disease requires addition of cisplatin-based chemotherapy in addition to those in stage II and III.

For those with invasive thymoma, treatment is based on induction chemotherapy, surgical resection, and post-surgical radiation.

5-year survival for invasive thymoma is between 12-54% regardless of any myasthenia gravis symptoms.

Secondary most common primary anterior mediastinal mass in adults. Most are seen in the anterior compartment and rest are seen in middle compartment. Hodgkin’s usually present in 40-50’s with nodular sclerosing type, and non-Hogdkin’s in all age groups. Can also be primary mediastinal B cell lymphoma with exceptionally good prognosis ^{[1] [2] [3]}

Common symptoms include fever, weight loss, night sweats, and compressive symptoms such as pain, dyspnea, wheezing, SVC syndrome, pleural effusions.

Diagnosis usually by CT showing lobulated mass. Confirmation done by tissue biopsy of accompanying nodes if any, mediastinoscopy, mediastinotomy, or thoracotomy. FNA biopsy usually not adequate.

Treatment of mediastinal Hodgkin’s involves chemotherapy and/or radiation. 5 year survival is now around 75%. Large-cell type may have somewhat better prognosis. Surgery is generally not performed because of invasive nature of tumor.

Of all cancers involving the same class of blood cell, 2% of cases are mediastinal large B cell lymphomas.^[4]

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

• The mediastinum is the part of the chest that lies between the sternum and the spinal column, and between the lungs. This area contains the heart, large blood vessels, windpipe (trachea), thymus gland, and connective tissues.

• The mediastinum is divided into three sections:

• Anterior (front)
• Middle
• Posterior (back)

• Mediastinal tumors are rare.

• The most common location for tumors in the mediastinum depends on the age of the patient. In children, tumors are more common in the posterior mediastinum. These tumors often begin in the nerves and are non-cancerous (benign).

• Most mediastinal tumors in adults occur in the anterior mediastinum and are usually cancerous (malignant) lymphomas or thymomas. These tumors are most common in people ages 30 – 50.

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

The outcome depends on the type of tumor. Different tumors respond differently to chemotherapy and radiation.

Complications of mediastinal tumors include:

• Spinal cord compression
• Spread to nearby structures such as the heart, lining around the heart (pericardium), and great vessels (aorta and vena cava)
• Radiation, surgery, and chemotherapy can all have serious complications.

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