Bölüm Künyesi
Bölüm Özeti
<div><br></div><div>The mediastinum is the thoracic space located between two pleural cavities. Many tumors occur in the mediastinum. Benign lesions are usually asymptomatic and detected during routine examinations. In malignant lesions, cough, dysphagia, dyspnea, and superior vena cava obstruction may be observed as a result of compression and obstruction. The most common in adults are neurogenic tumors, thymic tumors, lymphoma, and germ cell tumors. Early diagnosis and definitive treatment should be performed because mediastinal masses can compress surrounding tissues and show malignant degeneration over time.
</div><div>Our study aimed to describe the characteristics of masses located in the mediastinum.
</div><div>This study was produced from a medical specialization thesis titled “Mediastinal Kitleler ve Kistler”. In our study, 366 patients who were followed up for a thesis study at Ankara University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Thoracic Surgery between 1994-2006 were retrospectively examined. 336 patients diagnosed with a mediastinal mass were included in the study. Age, gender, localization of the lesion, surgical intervention and histopathological diagnosis features were evaluated. The mean age of the patients was 43.79±7.23 (2-79), 166 were male, 170 were female. 239 masses were detected in the anterior mediastinum, 64 in the visceral mediastinum and 33 in the posterior mediastinum. We found that thymic lesions were most frequently located in the anterior mediastinum, benign lymph node diseases in the visceral mediastinum and neurogenic tumors in the posterior mediastinum. 146 of the patients were diagnosed with a biopsy of the mass and referred to medical treatment. In five patients, resection could not be performed due to invasion of surrounding tissues by the mass during exploration. All other patients underwent resection. These were: Extended thymectomy 25, maximal thymectomy 37, thymectomy and partial pericardial resection 3, thymectomy and lung wedge resection 2, subtotal thyroidectomy 12, total thyroidectomy 6, mass excision 100. Histopathological diagnoses: Thymic mass 117, lymphoma 75, benign lymph node diseases 52, intrathoracic thyroid 46, neurogenic tumor 33, mesenchymal tumor 11, germ cell tumor 1 and parathyroid 1.
</div><div>Preliminary diagnosis can be made according to the localization of mediastinal masses. However, although rare, they can be detected in different compartments due to atypical localization or invasion. In the treatment of mediastinal masses, the localization and pathological diagnosis of the lesion are decisive. Except for limited cases, surgery has an important place in the diagnosis and treatment of mediastinal masses.
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