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.

There's more to see -- the rest of this topic is available only to subscribers.