الفهرس 
Anatomy of the MediastinumOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
 |  | from | 220 |  |  |
| | | from | 220 | | |
Abstract
The mediastinum is defined as a thoracic space, it is bordered laterally by the pleura, superiorly by the thoracic inlet and inferiorly by the diaphragm. It is divided into four compartments: superior compartment, anterior compart-ment, middle compartment and posterior compartment, since various masses are common in certain locations.
Mediastinal mass is an uncommon abnormality. A variety of histopathological diseases are seen in the mediastinum, definitive diagnosis is necessary because the managements are different in various etiologies of the masses.
Thymomas, germ cell tumors and lymphomas are the most common causes of anterior mediastinal masses, congenital cysts as bronchogenic and pericardial cysts are the most common causes of middle mediatinal masses, while neurogenic tumors are the most common causes of posterior mediastinal masses.
The aim of this work is registration of all mediastinal masses presented to Ain-Shams Specialized and Ain-Shams University hospitals in the period from 2001-2005, in order to evaluate, classify and differentiate the different cases of mediastinal masses.
Our study included 37 cases of mediastinal masses, 22 cases were diagnosed as lymph node masses, 11 cases were diagnosed as thymic masses, 2 cases were diagnosed as germ cell tumors, 1 case was diagnosed as thyroid lesion and 1 case was diagnosed as neurogenic tumor. The age of these cases ranged from 2.5 to 82 years old with a mean age of 51.1 years, 24 cases were males and 13 cases were females with male to female ratio 1.9:1.
Out of 22 cases of lymph node masses 9 cases were diagnosed as sarcoidosis (40.9%), 3 cases as tuberculosis (13.6%), 2 cases of non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas (9.1%) and 8 cases were diagnosed as metastatic tumors (36.4%). The age of these cases ranged from 3.8 to 82 years old with a mean age of 51.95 years, 15 cases were males and 7 cases were females.
Out of 11 cases of thymic masses, 6 cases were diagnosed as thymomas (54.5%), 3 cases were diagnosed as thymic carcinoma (23.2%), 1 case was diagnosed as thymic carcinoid (9.1%), and 1 case was diagnosed as thymic cyst (9.1). The age of these cases ranged from 34 to 71 years old with a mean age of 57.9 years, 7 cases were males and 4 cases were females.
The 2 cases diagnosed as germ cell tumors were mature cystic teratoma and yolk sac tumor. The ages of these 2 cases were 12 and 37 years old respectively with a mean age of 24.5 years, and the 2 cases were males.
The last 2 cases one diagnosed as multinodular goiter, the age of this case was 66 years old. The other case was diagnosed as ganglioneuroma and the age of this case was 2.5 years old. Those 2 cases were females.
from 37 cases of mediastinal masses, 6 cases (16.2%) were located in superior mediastinal compartment, 30 cases (81.1%) were located in anterior and middle mediastinal compartments, and 1 case (2.7%) was located in posterior mediastinal compartment.
Out of 37 cases of mediastinal masses 21 cases (58.3%) were benign, 15 cases (41.7%) were malignant and the last case was bordereline.