Mediastinal Mass

Basics

Description

Space-occupying lesion of the mediastinum

  • Anterior mediastinum includes the thymus and other structures anterior to the pericardium.
  • Middle mediastinum contains the heart, great vessels, ascending aorta, and aortic arch, as well as lymph nodes.
  • Posterior mediastinum contains the tracheobronchial tree, esophagus, descending aorta, and neural structures.

Pathophysiology

Morbidity is due to compression of adjacent normal structures, particularly large airways, heart, and great vessels.

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