What causes a mediastinal mass?

What causes a mediastinal mass?

A: Depending on etiology, a mediastinal tumor can be caused by an enlarged lymph node, or a gland such as the thymus, thyroid, or parathyroid. It can also be caused by a cyst originating from the pericardium (the sac that houses the heart), the bronchus, or the esophagus.

How do you treat mediastinal mass?

Mediastinal tumors may be treated with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation or a combination of these options. The treatment will depend on the type of tumor, location and the overall health of the patient.

What is hilar mass?

Hilar Enlargement/Hilar Masses The hilar region of the lung may be affected by tumors (including both primary tumors and metastatic tumors), enlargement of hilar lymph nodes, or abnormalities of the pulmonary arteries or veins.

Who treats mediastinal mass?

Thoracic surgeons treat patients who require surgical solution to diseases and disorders of the chest, including mediastinal tumors.

Can a doctor tell if a tumor is cancerous by looking at it?

Cancer is nearly always diagnosed by an expert who has looked at cell or tissue samples under a microscope. In some cases, tests done on the cells’ proteins, DNA, and RNA can help tell doctors if there’s cancer. These test results are very important when choosing the best treatment options.

How are mediastinum masses identified in the heart?

Mediastinal masses are identified cranial and dorsal to the heart as they displace normal aerated lung tissue. A mass may encroach on the heart base, and the great vessels may be identified passing through it. Thymic lymphosarcomas generally are hypoechoic and even in texture.

What is the differential diagnosis of circumscribed masses?

In Table 4.1 the differential diagnosis of circumscribed masses based on their density is shown. Masses that are fatty—lipomas, oil cysts, and galactoceles—and circumscribed masses that are mixed density are characteristically benign.

What happens if you have an anterior mediastinal mass?

Patients with anterior mediastinal masses are prone to develop certain potentially life-threatening complications because of the influence of these masses on neighboring structures (superior vena cava, tracheal bifurcation or main-stem bronchi, main pulmonary artery, aortic arch, and heart).

Where are the circumscribed masses in the breast?

Circumscribed Masses. In the center of the breast is a small radiolucent mass (arrow) that has a circumscribed margin. Ultrasound of the palpable mass shows it to be echogenic and to contain a small cystic area. Based on the history of the patient and the findings, the masses are most consistent with galactoceles.