Causes and Ways to Treat Mediastinal Tumors

Mediastinal tumors are tumors that grow in the mediastinum part, which is a cavity in the middle of the chest that lies between the sternum and the spine. Mediastinal tumors can occur to anyone, both adults, adolescents, and even children. Mediastinum is divided into three chambers, namely anterior (front), middle, and posterior (rear). These three parts have a risk to get a mediastinal tumor. Mediastinal tumors in the anterior part are more at risk for adults aged 30-50 years. While posterior mediastinal tumors are often encountered in children.

Types of Mediastinum Tumors Based on Location

The types of tumors that can occur in the mediastinum are quite diverse. If based on its location, the mediatinum tumor can be divided as follows:

Anterior mediastinal tumor (front)

Lymphoma is a tumor that often occurs 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 thymic 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 also often occur in the middle mediastinum are:

• Pericardial cyst, which is a benign tumor in the lining of the heart.
• Mediastinal lymphadenopathy or enlarged lymph nodes.
• Tracheal tumor and esophageal tumor.

Posterior mediastinal tumor (backside)

Neurogenic tumors are the most common tumors in the posterior mediastinum. This tumor is benign. In addition, other types of tumors that can occur in this section are:

• Lymphadenopathy or enlarged lymph nodes.
• Extramedular hematopoeisis, which is a tumor in the bone marrow.
• Neuroenteric cyst, which is a rare lump in the nervous and gastrointestinal system.

Some of the symptoms that are often associated with mediastinal tumors are coughing, shortness of breath, chest pain, fever, night sweats, weight loss without apparent cause, hoarseness, to swollen lymph nodes.

Treatment for Mediastinum Tumors

Treatment for mediastinal tumors will be adjusted to the type and location of the tumor. Initially, the doctor will first ask the patient's complaints and medical history, and do a physical examination. To find out 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 find out the type of tumor, the doctor will conduct a biopsy, which is taking tissue samples to be examined in the laboratory. If the location and type of mediastinal tumor are known, then the doctor determines the treatment to be given. The following are common treatments for doctors to treat mediastinal tumors:

• In the thymoma, the treatment option is surgery, which is accompanied by radiotherapy or chemotherapy.
• In lymphoma, chemotherapy and radiotherapy will be performed. Surgery is generally needed for diagnosis.
• In neurogenic tumors, the treatment option 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 abnormality, including mediastinal tumors, can be detected early.