What are mediastinal tumors?
A mediastinal tumor is a growth in the central cavity of the chest (between the lungs). This cavity also contains the heart, aorta, esophagus, thymus and trachea. There are many different types of mediastinal tumors. The type, location and size of the tumor dictate if you feel any symptoms and what treatment you should have. The most common mediastinal tumor in adults is a tumor of the thymus gland called a thymoma. Most patients will not have symptoms from a thymoma. However, some patients have symptoms from compression of other structures in the chest or from an uncommon disease called myasthenia gravis.
