Mediastinal tumor

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Lungs

Thymoma - mediastinal; Lymphoma - mediastinal

Almost half of mediastinal tumors cause no symptoms and are discovered on a chest x-ray performed for another reason. When present, symptoms are related to compression of local structures and may include:

• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Fever
• Chills
• Night sweats
• Coughing up blood (hemoptysis)
• Hoarseness

Mediastinal tumors are first suspected during history and physical examination which may reveal:

• Fever
• Unintentional weight loss
• Lymphadenopathy (swollen or tender lymph nodes)
• Wheezing
• Stridor

Further diagnostic evaluation typically includes:

• Chest x-ray
• CT scan of the chest
• MRI of the chest
• CT-guided needle biopsy
• Mediastinoscopy with biopsy

Review Date: 09/11/2006
Reviewed By: Rita Nanda, M.D., Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology/Oncology, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.