Korean J Pathol.
1985 Dec;19(4):413-419.
Histopathologic Study of the Mediastinal Tumors and Tumor-like Condition
- Affiliations
-
- 1Department of Pathology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Abstract
- Mediastinum is bounded by sternum, vertebra, 1st rib, and diaphragm externally, and by pleural cavity internally and includes important structures such as great vessels, nerves, thymus and many lymph nodes. Primary and metastatic cancers, cysts and inflammatory lesions can develop in this region, and the tumor developing in the mediastinum has a tendency to developed in a specific area of mediastinum depending on the histologic type. Therefore the developing site of tumor and the clinical findings are very important in diagnosing the tumor of the mediastinum. We studied not only the characteristics of mediastinal tumor and tumorlike conditions but the histologic classification and frequency of mass to a specific area and then observed if there is any information that could help in diagnosis of the lesion of the mediastinum. Results obtained were as follows: 1) Of the 95 cases of mediastinal lesion which excludes inflammatory process, there were 70 cases (73.5%) of primary tumors, 13 cases (13.1%) of metastatic tumors and 12 cases (12.6%) of tumor-like conditions. 2) Of the 70 cases of primary tumor, 54 cases (76.8%) were benign, 13 cases (20%) were malignant and 3 cases were unclassified or unidentified tumor with the overall 3.8:1 prevalence rate of benign tumor compared to malignancy. 3) Histologic classification of the 70 cases of primary tumor showed 27 cases (28.4%) of germ cell tumor, 22 cases (23.2%) of neurogenic tumor, 7 cases (7.4%) of thymoma, 6 cases (6.3%) of lymphoma and 5 cases (5.3%) of soft tissue tumors with the highest frequency of germ cell tumor. Germ cell tumor and neurogenic tumor exceeded to 50% of total primary mediastinal tumor. 4) Male to female prevalence rate showed that benigh tumor had a high frequency in female with the the ratio of 1:1.4. But malignant tumor showed much higher frequency in male with the ratio of 4.2:1. 5) Anterior mediastinum had germ cell tumor, thymoma and lymphoma in order of frequency. Metastatic tumor was the most common in superior mediastinum. Superior mediastinum had germ cell tumor and neurogenic tumor with about the equal number, and soft tissue tumor was also developed. Middle mediastinal tumor was less common in number compared to other portions of mediastinum but the majority of tumors developed was developmental cysts and metastatic tumors. And the majority of neurogenic tumors occured at the posterior mediastinum. 6) Mass sized 5-10 cm in diameter were about 55.7% of all tumor, 2.5-5 cm and 10-15 cm were 20% respectively. But the mass sized smaller than 2.5 cm and larger than 15 cm were about 5% respectively. And the malignant tumors have more larger size than benign tumors. 7) Patient with benigh tumor had no symptoms at all or some complaints of chest tightness, dyspnea, chest pain, shoulder pain and dysphagia. In addition to above symptoms, patient with malignant tumor complained of systemic symptoms such as weight loss and fever.
