Various types of tumors can arise in the mediastinum originating from any organ present in this region, such as the trachea, thymus, heart, esophagus or lymphatic system, causing symptoms such as coughing, shortness of breath or chest pain. The mediastinum is the space between the lungs, in the middle of the chest.
Mediastinal tumors can be benign, as in the case of schwannomas and neurofibromas, or malignant, such as lymphoma or thymus cancer (thymoma), or even originate from cancer metastasis from other parts of the body.
Cancer in the mediastinum is more common between the ages of 30 and 50, but it can also appear in children, and it is important to consult an oncologist in the presence of symptoms, so that an early diagnosis can be made and the most appropriate treatment can be initiated.
Symptoms of mediastinal cancer
The main symptoms of mediastinal cancer include:
- Persistent cough, which may contain blood;
- Shortness of breath, or wheezing or noise in the chest when breathing;
- Chest pain;
- Fever or chills;
- Difficulty swallowing or breathing;
- Excessive tiredness or constant weakness;
- Night sweats;
- Inguas;
- Loss of appetite or weight loss for no apparent reason.
Symptoms of mediastinal cancer vary according to the affected region and may appear when the tumor compresses the structures around it. However, in some cases, the person may not have any symptoms, and the tumor is identified during routine examinations.
It is important to consult a general practitioner or oncologist whenever symptoms of mediastinal cancer appear, so that the diagnosis can be made and the most appropriate treatment can be initiated.
How to confirm the diagnosis
The diagnosis of cancer in the mediastinum is made by a general practitioner or oncologist through evaluation of symptoms, health history, physical examination and imaging tests, such as chest X-ray, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound or PET scan.
In addition, the doctor may order blood tests for tumor markers such as alpha-fetoprotein, lactate dehydrogenase (DHL) and human chorionic gonadotropin (ß-HCG). Check out the main tumor marker tests to detect cancer.
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Another test that may be requested by the doctor is a biopsy, in which a sample of tumor tissue is taken from the mediastinum, to confirm the diagnosis and type of tumor.
Possible causes
Mediastinal cancer has very varied causes, as it depends on the structure that gave rise to the tumor. It can appear in any part of the mediastinum, such as the anterior, middle and posterior parts, or metastasize from other tumors in the body.
The most common causes of mediastinal cancer are:
Furthermore, mediastinal cancer can arise as a consequence of metastasis from other tumors, such as lung and breast cancer.
How the treatment is carried out
Treatment for mediastinal cancer must be guided by an oncologist and depends on the location, type of cancer, aggressiveness of the tumor and general health status.
Therefore, the treatments that may be indicated are chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery. These treatments can be done in combination, according to the oncologist’s assessment.
Bibliography
- CARTER, B.W.; et al. Approaching the patient with an anterior mediastinal mass: a guide for clinicians. J Thorac Oncol. 9. 9 Suppl 2; S102-9, 2014
- RAGHAVAN, D.; et al. Textbook of Uncommon Cancer. 5ed. Wiley Blackwell, 2017. 214-247.
- YAMASHITA, T.; et al. Mediastinal Metastasis of Breast Cancer Mimicking a Primary Mediastinal Tumor. Am J Case Rep. 21. e925275, 2020
- ROSTI, G.; et al. Primary mediastinal germ cell tumors. Semin Oncol. 46. 2; 107-111, 2019
- JILANI, T. N.; KILLEEN, R. B.; SIDDIQUI, A. H. IN: STATPEARLS (INTERNET). TREASURE ISLAND (FL): STATPEARLS PUBLISHING. Mediastinal Cancer. 2022. Available at: <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513231/>. Accessed on Sep 14, 2022
- Yu, Y.; et al. Primary mediastinal large B cell lymphoma. Thorac Cancer. 12. 21; 2831-2837, 2021
