thoracic neoplasms Flashcards
(145 cards)
what is the mediastinum
anatomic space located between the lungs that contains all principal tissues and organs of the chest except the lungs
what are the borders of the anterior mediastinum
posterior sternum and anterior aspect of the great vessels and pericardium
what are the contents of the anterior mediastinum
- thymus
- internal mammary arteries
- lymph nodes
- connective tissue
- fat
what are the MC etiologic masses in the anterior mediastinum
- “terrible T’s” - thymoma, teratoma, thyroid/parathyroid tissue
- Foramen of Morgagni hernia
- Mesenchymal tumors (lipoma, fibroma)
- Giant lymph node hyperplasia, lymphoma
- Germ cell tumor - seminoma /teratoma
what are the borders of the middle mediastinum
- ventral border: anterior aspect of the pericardium, great vessels and trachea
- dorsal border: posterior pericardium, anterior esophagus
What are the MC etiologic masses of the middle mediastinum
- Granulomatous or metastatic lymphadenopathy
- Cysts (pleuropericardial, bronchogenic, enteric)
- Masses of vascular origin (pulmonary artery enlargement (in PH), aortic aneurysm )
what are the borders of the posterior mediastinum
- everything behind the posterior pericardium
what are the contents of the posterior mediastinum
- descending thoracic aorta
- esophagus
- thoracic duct
- azygos and hemiazygos veins
- sympathetic chains
- posterior group of mediastinal lymph nodes
- spine
what are the MC etiologic masses of the posterior mediastinum
- Neurogenic tumors, meningocele, meningomyelocele
- Gastroenteric cysts, esophageal diverticula/tumor
- Hiatal hernia, hernia through foramen of Bochdalek
- Extramedullary hematopoiesis
when are most mediastinal masses found?
incidentally 50% of the time
what is required when a mediastinal mass is suspected
a comprehensive H&P with a full ROS
what physical exam systems are particularly important to be observed in mediastinal masses
- head/neck
- upper extremity
- chest
- abdomen
- all lymph nodes
- scrotal/testicular exam in males
what is the mediastinal mass effect
direct involvement or compression of normal cardiothoracic structures
what are symptoms associated with the mediastinal mass effect?
- lungs - stridor, hoarseness, shortness of breath, dyspnea, cough, hemoptysis, retrosternal chest pain
- esophagus - dysphagia
- vascular compression - facial and/or extremity swelling
- heart - cardiac compression, hypotension
- sympathetic chain - horners syndrome
what is the mediastinal mass effect on the sympathetic chain
causes horners syndrome:
remember this is characterized by PAM Horner!!
P - Ptosis (drooping of the upper eyelid)
A - anhidrosis (absence of sweating of the face)
M - miosis (constriction of pupil)
what symptoms are more often related to malignant lesions such as lymphoma and paraneoplastic disorders
systemic (constitutional) effects
- fever
- night sweats
- weight loss
What is the imaging that is obtained with a mediastinal mass
initial - CXR - PA/lateral
CT chest w IV contrast - provides information on location, size, relationship to other structures, and tissue characters
(I feel like this is CXR to confrim that there is a nodule, then CT to learn more about the nodule)
what are some additional imaging options for mediastinal masses and when would you obtain these types of images
- barium swallow - suspected esophageal disease
- doppler US, CT/MRI - vascular etiology
- thyroid scan and uptake - intrathoracic goiter
- PET scan or PET-CT - suspected lymphoma or malignancy
- testicular/ovarian US - to assess for primary site of germ cell tumor
what are laboratory evaluations that should be done in evaluation of mediastinal masses
- tumor markers if thymoma or germ cell tumors are suspected
- anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies (+ in thymic tumors)
- alpha fetoprotein and beta human chorionic gonadotropin (+ in germ cell tumors)
- lactate dehydrogenase (high in seminomas and lymphoma)
what labs are positive in thymic tumors
anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies
what labs are elevated with germ cell tumors
alpha fetoprotein and beta human chorionic gonadotropin
what labs are elevated with seminomas and lymphoma
lactate dehydrogenase
what other laboratory studies could be done in evaluation of mediastinal masses
- lymphoma workup
- thyroid workup
- biopsy
what are the three types of biopsies for mediastinal masses
- percutaneous
- endobronchial
- surgical mediastinoscopy with biopsy