Mediastinal Tumours

What is a mediastinal tumour?
What are the causes of mediastinal tumours?
What are the signs and symptoms of mediastinal tumours?
What are the possible tests used to diagnose mediastinal tumours?
What are the possible procedures and treatments for mediastinal tumours?
What is the future plan if you have a mediastinal tumour?

What is a mediastinal tumour?

Mediastinal tumours are a rare type of tumour that develops in the mediastinum. These tumours can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancer-causing).

The mediastinum is the area in the middle of the chest, between the breastbone and spine, which separates the lungs. The mediastinum is home to your heart, swallowing tube (oesophagus) and windpipe (trachea).

Mediastinal tumours can develop in three locations:

  1. Anterior mediastinum – the area at the front of the mediastinum
  2. Middle mediastinum – the area in the middle of the mediastinum
  3. Posterior mediastinum – the area at the back of the mediastinum.

While rare, mediastinal tumours can be very serious. These tumours can grow and put pressure on the heart, lungs, oesophagus, windpipe and spine.

What are the causes of mediastinal tumours?

The causes of mediastinal tumours vary, depending on their location.

Causes of anterior mediastinal tumours include:

  • Lymphoma – both Hodgkin’s disease and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
  • Thyroid mass
  • Thymus tumour – the thymus is a gland in the top of the chest.

Causes of middle mediastinum tumours include:

  • Cyst in the respiratory system
  • Cyst on the heart lining
  • Enlarged lymph nodes
  • Growth on the windpipe
  • Thyroid mass. 

Causes of posterior mediastinal tumours include:

  • Bone marrow growths
  • Cancerous nerve cells
  • Enlarged lymph nodes
  • Growth that involves both the nerves and the gastrointestinal system. 

What are the signs and symptoms of mediastinal tumours?

Mediastinal tumours don’t often have signs or symptoms. Symptoms may develop if the tumour is growing and putting pressure on surrounding organs.

Common symptoms can include:

  • Breathlessness
  • Chest pain
  • Cough
  • Coughing up blood
  • Fever
  • Hoarse voice
  • Night sweats
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Weight loss.

If the tumour is cancerous, it can spread to other areas of the body – this is known as metastatic or secondary cancer.

Metastatic cancer causes symptoms that vary, depending on the location of the tumour.

What are the possible tests used to diagnose mediastinal tumours?

If your doctor thinks you may have a mediastinal tumour, you will need several types of lung tests.

Common tests can include:

These tests will:

  • Accurately diagnose a tumour
  • Confirm if the tumour is benign or malignant.
  • Confirm if the tumour is primary or secondary
  • Identify where the tumour is
  • Identify the size of the tumour
  • Look for signs of tumours.

What are the possible procedures and treatments for mediastinal tumours?

Treatment for mediastinal tumours varies and depends on the type, size and location of the tumour. Your doctor will determine which treatment is most suitable for you.

Surgery is a common treatment. There are different types of surgery to remove tumours, including:

  • Minimally invasive surgery, such as Video-assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS) – small cuts are made in the side of your chest to access and remove the tumour
  • Sternotomy – a cut is made in the breastbone to remove the tumour
  • Thoracotomy – a cut is made between the ribs to remove the tumour.

Other treatments for mediastinal tumours include:

  • Chemotherapy – medication that destroys cancer cells; chemotherapy also destroys healthy cells and causes serious side effects
  • Combination therapy – some people may require a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy
  • Radiation therapy – an X-ray treatment that destroys or injures cancer cells so they cannot multiply.

What is the future plan if you have a mediastinal tumour?

If you have a mediastinal tumour, your doctor will develop a long-term, personalised treatment plan for you. It’s important to follow this plan and have regular check-ups to monitor your health and treatment progress.

Tumours respond to treatments differently, and there are many factors that can impact your treatment plan, including:

  • Location of tumour
  • Size of tumour
  • Type of tumour
  • Whether the tumour is primary or secondary
  • Your general health.

If you have a mediastinal tumour, or are concerned about your health, speak with your doctor for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.