Table of contents:
- Definition of a mediastinal tumor
- What is a mediastinal tumor?
- How common is this condition?
- Mediastinal tumor signs and symptoms
- Causes of mediastinal tumors
- Anterior (front) mediastinal tumor
- Middle mediastinal tumor
- Posterior (back) mediastinal tumor
- Diagnosis & treatment of mediastinal tumors
- How do doctors diagnose this tumor?
- How are mediastinal tumors treated?
Definition of a mediastinal tumor
What is a mediastinal tumor?
Mediastinal tumors are tumors or collections of abnormal tissue that grow and develop in the mediastinal area.
The mediastinum itself is the part of the chest that lies between the sternum and spine and between the lungs. This part of the chest contains the heart, large blood vessels, throat, thymus gland, esophagus, nerves, and lymph nodes.
The mediastinal area is divided into three parts, namely anterior (front), middle, and posterior (back). In these places, various types of tumors can grow. The nature of the tumor can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancer).
Someone who experiences this condition needs to be treated immediately. The reason is, untreated mediastinal tumors, both benign and cancerous, can cause complications that are dangerous to health, such as spread to the lungs, heart and heart lining (pericardium), or large blood vessels (aorta and vena cava), as well as pressure on spinal cord.
How common is this condition?
Mediastinal tumors are rare tumors. Reporting from the Cleveland Clinic, this tumor is usually diagnosed in patients aged 30-50 years. However, these tumors can develop at any age, including children, and form from any tissue that is in or through the chest cavity.
However, the location and type of tumor experienced by adults and children can be different. In adults, most tumors occur in the anterior (front) and are generally in the form of lymphoma or malignant thymoma (cancer). Meanwhile, in children, these tumors are generally found in the posterior part that starts in the nerves and is benign.
Mediastinal tumor signs and symptoms
Nearly half of people with these tumors do not feel any symptoms. When symptoms appear, they generally occur because the tumor has pressed on nearby organs, such as the spinal cord or heart and the lining of the heart.
Symptoms and the severity of symptoms that you feel can vary from person to person. This depends on the location, size and nature of the tumor that occurred. However, in general, the symptoms of mediastinal cancer or tumor that may occur are:
- Cough with or without blood.
- Hard to breathe.
- Hoarseness.
- Chest pain.
- Fever and chills.
- Night sweats.
- Wheezing or high-pitched breath sounds.
- Unexplained weight loss.
- Swollen lymph nodes
There may be other symptoms that were not mentioned. If you feel the symptoms above or are worried about certain symptoms you can do a symptom check here or immediately consult a doctor.
Causes of mediastinal tumors
The causes of mediastinal tumors vary, depending on the type and location of growth. As previously mentioned, the types of abnormal tissue that appear in each part of the mediastinum, whether front, middle, or back, can be different.
The following are the causes of mediastinal tumors based on the classification and location of growth:
Anterior (front) mediastinal tumor
The most common anterior or front tumor is the thymoma, which is a tumor that grows in the thymus gland. Most of these types of tumors are benign, but about 30 percent are malignant (thymus cancer). In addition, other types of cancer or tumors can also occur in the anterior, such as:
- Lymphoma or lymphoma, either Hodgkin's lymphoma or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
- Germ cell tumors, most of which are benign.
- Mediastinal thyroid mass, which is a benign mass such as a goiter that can develop into cancer.
Middle mediastinal tumor
The various types of tumors in the middle are generally:
- Bronchogenic cysts, which are benign tumors that grow in the respiratory tract.
- Mediastinal lymphadenopathy, which is enlarged lymph nodes.
- Pericardium cyst, which is a benign tumor in the pericardium (lining of the heart).
- Tracheal tumor.
- Esophageal tumor or cancer.
Posterior (back) mediastinal tumor
Posteriorly, the most common type of tumor is a neurogenic tumor that grows from a nerve. This type of tumor is usually benign and is often on the side of the spine. In addition to neurogenic, other types of tumors that often appear in the posterior, namely:
- Lymphadenopathy.
- Extramedullary haematopoiesis, namely abnormal tissue formed from the bone marrow.
- Mediastinal neuroenteric cyst, which is a fluid-filled sac that develops outside of normal tissue.
Diagnosis & treatment of mediastinal tumors
How do doctors diagnose this tumor?
Symptoms are often not felt in sufferers of this tumor. In this condition, abnormal tissue or mass in the mediastinum can be identified on a chest x-ray for other reasons.
However, if symptoms appear, the doctor will make a diagnosis based on the signs of the tumor. To be sure, the doctor will perform a physical examination and other supporting tests. The following are some of the screening tests that are commonly performed to diagnose mediastinal tumors:
- Imaging tests for mediastinal tumors, such as chest x-rays, CT scans, or MRI.
- Blood test.
- Bronchoscopy.
- Esophagoscopy.
- Sampling of tumor tissue by biopsy.
Depending on your symptoms, other tests may be needed. Consult your doctor for the right type of examination.
How are mediastinal tumors treated?
Treatment of cancer and non-cancer in the mediastinum depends on the type and location, the severity of the disease, and the patient's overall health condition. The types of treatment provided can be in the form of surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or a combination thereof.
The following are common treatment procedures given based on the type of tumor that appears in the mediastinum:
- Thymoma and thymus cancer generally require surgical or surgical procedures to remove the abnormal tissue, which may be followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
- Treatment for lymphoma is usually chemotherapy, which may also be followed by radiotherapy. The operation is usually performed for diagnostic purposes.
- Germ cell tumors are usually treated with chemotherapy.
- Posterior neurogenic tumors are usually treated surgically to remove the mass.
In addition to the above treatments, the Cleveland Clinic says, some masses that are benign and do not cause problems may only need active supervision from a doctor. In this condition, the doctor will monitor the condition of the tumor from time to time. Always consult a doctor for the right type of treatment.
