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Mediastinal tumor   

Overview | Symptoms | Treatment | Prevention

Alternative names:

Mediastinal mass; Thymoma; Lymphoma; Teratoma; Thyroid tumor; Mediastinal lymphadenopathy; Neurogenic tumors

Definition:

A tumor in the cavity which separates the lungs and contains the heart, the large blood vessels, the trachea, the thymus, and connective tissues.

Causes and Risks

The mediastinum is broken down into three sections: the anterior, middle and posterior. Overall, mediastinal tumors are rare. The most common location for these tumors varies according to the age of the patient. In children, tumors are more common in the posterior mediastinum. These are often neurogenic in origin (beginning in the nerves) and are often benign. In contrast, most mediastinal tumors in adults occur in the anterior mediastinum and are usually malignant lymphomas or thymomas. These occur most commonly in people aged 30-50.

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