Mediastinal TumorSymptoms, Doctors, Treatments, Advances & More
Learn About Mediastinal Tumor
Mediastinal tumors are growths that form in the mediastinum. This is an area in the middle of the chest that separates the lungs.
Thymoma - mediastinal; Lymphoma - mediastinal
The mediastinum is the part of the chest that lies between the sternum and the spinal column, and between the lungs. This area contains the heart, large blood vessels, windpipe (trachea), thymus gland, esophagus, and connective tissues. The mediastinum is divided into three sections:
- Anterior (front)
- Middle
- Posterior (back)
Mediastinal tumors are rare.
The most common location for tumors in the mediastinum depends on the age of the person. In children, tumors are more common in the posterior mediastinum. These tumors often begin in the nerves and are noncancerous (benign).
Most mediastinal tumors in adults occur in the anterior mediastinum. They are usually cancerous (malignant) lymphomas, germ cell tumors, or thymomas (cancers of the thymus). These tumors are most common in middle aged and older adults.
Almost one half of mediastinal tumors cause no symptoms and are found on a chest x-ray done for another reason. Symptoms that do occur are due to pressure on (compression of) local structures and may include:
- Chest pain
- Fever and chills
- Cough
- Coughing up blood (hemoptysis)
- Hoarseness
- Night sweats
- Shortness of breath
The treatment for a mediastinal tumor depends on the type of tumor and symptoms:
- Thymomas are treated with surgery. It may be followed by radiation or chemotherapy, depending on the stage of the tumor and the success of the surgery.
- Germ cell tumors are usually treated with chemotherapy.
- For lymphomas, targeted therapy and chemotherapy are the preferred treatments, possibly followed by radiation.
- For nerve-related tumors of the posterior mediastinum, surgery is the main treatment.
Yale University
Frank Detterbeck is a Thoracic Surgeon and a General Surgeon practicing medicine in New Haven, Connecticut. Dr. Detterbeck is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Mediastinal Tumor. He is also highly rated in 14 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Thymic Epithelial Tumor, Lung Cancer, Mediastinal Tumor, Thymectomy, and Endoscopy.
Enrico Ruffini practices practicing medicine in Turin, Italy. Mr. Ruffini is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Mediastinal Tumor. He is also highly rated in 11 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Thymic Epithelial Tumor, Mediastinal Tumor, Lung Cancer, Thymectomy, and Endoscopy.
Maurizio Martelli practices practicing medicine in Rome, Italy. Mr. Martelli is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Mediastinal Tumor. He is also highly rated in 20 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Primary Mediastinal B-Cell Lymphoma (PMBCL), B-Cell Lymphoma, Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL), Tissue Biopsy, and Bone Marrow Transplant.
The outcome depends on the type of tumor. Different tumors respond differently to chemotherapy and radiation.
Complications of mediastinal tumors include:
- Spinal cord compression
- Spread to nearby structures such as the heart, lining around the heart (pericardium), and great vessels (aorta and vena cava)
Radiation, surgery, and chemotherapy can all have serious complications.
Contact your health care provider if you notice symptoms of a mediastinal tumor.
Summary: It is reported that more than 90,000 patients died of lung cancer and more than 20% of them were older than 80 years in North America. Therefore a less invasive but effective treatment is required for patients with lung cancer of advanced age, diminished pulmonary functions, and chronic diseases. Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for early stag...
Summary: The study is aimed o evaluate the diagnostic performance and treatment guidance of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) combined with transbronchial mediastinal cryobiopsy (EBUS-TBMCB) in patients with mediastinal metastases of lung cancer.
Published Date: May 01, 2026
Published By: Warren Brenner, MD, Oncologist, Lynn Cancer Institute, Boca Raton, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
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Triplette M, Varghese TK, Cheng GS. Mediastinal tumors and cysts. In: Broaddus VC, Ernst JD, King TE, et al, eds. Murray & Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 115.