Mediastinal tumors are tumors that grow in the mediastinum, which is the cavity in the middle of the chest that is located between the breastbone (breastbone).sternum) and the spine. Mediastinal tumors can occur to anyone, both adults, adolescents, and even children.
The mediastinum is divided into three chambers, namely anterior (front), middle, and posterior (back). These three parts have a risk for mediastinal tumors. Anterior mediastinal tumors are more at risk for adults aged 30-50 years, while posterior mediastinal tumors are often found in children.
Mediastinal Tumor Types Based on Location
The types of tumors that can occur in the mediastinum are quite diverse. If based on its location, mediatinal tumors can be divided as follows:
Anterior mediastinal tumor (front)
Lymphoma is one of the most common tumors in the anterior mediastinum. Tumors that attack the lymphatic system can be divided into two types, namely Hodgkin's lymphoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
In addition to lymphoma, tumors that can occur in the anterior mediastinum are:
- Thymoma and thymus cyst
- Germ cell tumors (TSG)
- Mediastinal thyroid mass
Middle mediastinal tumor
One type of middle mediastinal tumor is a bronchogenic cyst that grows in the respiratory tract.
Other tumors that are also common in the middle mediastinum are:
- Pericardial cyst, which is a benign tumor on the lining of the heart.
- Mediastinal lymphadenopathy or enlarged lymph nodes.
- Tracheal and esophageal tumors.
Posterior mediastinal tumor (back)
Neurogenic tumors are the most common tumors in the posterior mediastinum. These tumors are benign.
In addition, other types of tumors that can occur in this section are:
- Lymphadenopathy or enlarged lymph nodes.
- Extramedullary hematopoiesis, which is a tumor in the bone marrow.
- Neuroenteric cysts, which are rare lumps in the nervous and gastrointestinal systems.
Some of the symptoms that are often associated with mediastinal tumors are cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, fever, night sweats, unexplained weight loss, hoarseness, and swollen lymph nodes.
Treatment for Mediastinal Tumors
Treatment for mediastinal tumors will depend on the type and location of the tumor. At first, the doctor will first ask the patient's complaints and medical history, as well as perform a physical examination.
To determine the location of the mediastinal tumor, the doctor will perform several supporting examinations, such as chest X-ray, MRI, CT scan, ultrasound, esophagoscopy, and bronchoscopy. In addition, to determine the type of tumor, the doctor will perform a biopsy, which is taking a sample of tissue for examination in the laboratory.
If the location and type of mediastinal tumor is known, then the doctor will determine the treatment to be given. The following are treatments that are commonly done by doctors to treat mediastinal tumors:
- In thymoma, treatment options are surgery, which is accompanied by radiotherapy or chemotherapy.
- In lymphoma, chemotherapy and radiotherapy will be performed. Surgery is generally required for diagnostic purposes.
- In neurogenic tumors, the treatment of choice is surgery.
Mediastinal tumors must be treated immediately because they can cause complications and damage to surrounding organs, such as the heart, lungs, and aorta. So, do regular health checks to the doctor, so that any abnormalities, including mediastinal tumors, can be detected early.