Mediastinal mass

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Mediastinal mass Microchapters

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Overview

Anatomy of Mediastinum

Causes

Differentiating Mediastinal Mass from other Diseases

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Trusha Tank, M.D.[2], Amr Marawan, M.D. [3]

Synonyms and keywords: Mediastinal enlargement; mass in the mediastinum

Overview

The mediastinum is a non-delineated group of structures in the thorax (chest), surrounded by loose connective tissue. It is the central compartment of the thoracic cavity. It contains the heart, the great vessels of the heart, esophagus, trachea, thymus, and lymph nodes of the central chest. A wide variety of diseases involving these organs can present as a mediastinal mass or widening of the mediastinum on imaging studies. Mediastinal widening is diagnosed by the mediastinum measuring greater than 8 cm in width on PA chest x-ray. The mediastinal mass may present with symptoms caused by the mass pressing against other organs or even without any symptoms. Mediastinal masses can be differentiated on the basis of location in the mediastinal cavity into 3 groups: Prevascular, visceral and paravertebral.


Compartments Boundaries Components
Prevascular Superior: Thoracic inlet

Inferior: Diaphragm

Anterior: Sternum

Posterior: Anterior aspect of pericardium

Lateral: Parietal mediastinal pleura

Thymus

Fat

Lymph nodes

Left brachiocephalic vein

Visceral Superior: Thoracic inlet

Inferior: Diaphragm

Anterior

Posterior

Lateral

Paravertebral Superior: Thoracic inlet

Inferior: Diaphragm

Anterior

Posterior

Lateral

References