Mediastinal tumors

Abstract

The mediastinum is a relatively small anatomical region with a tightly packed constituency that includes the heart and great vessels, conducting airways, esophagus, and spinal cord with associated neural structures. As one might expect, a myriad of tumor types may arise in this high-density region of progenitor tissues. Although the variety of tumors that may arise in the confines of the mediastinum is impressive, this diversity is easily matched and perhaps even surpassed by differing methods of proper treatment for these lesions. For this reason, the mediastinum could be considered one of the areas of the body with the greatest potential and necessity for meaningful therapeutic collaboration between the surgical, medical, and radiation oncologist.