Rhabdomyosarcoma Key Facts Clinical Issues Anterior mediastinum Cough Chest pain Dyspnea Pleural effusion Highly aggressive tumors with short survival Microscopic Pathology Sheets of “small round blue cells” with hyperchromatic nuclei…
Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor Key Facts Terminology Peripheral nerve sheath tumor (PNST) Synonyms: Malignant schwannoma, neurofibrosarcoma, neurogenic sarcoma Clinical Issues These tumors are more common in posterior mediastinum but can…
Choriocarcinoma Key Facts Terminology Chorioepithelioma Clinical Issues Incidence May represent the least common of all germ cell tumors in mediastinum Represents < 5% of all germ cell tumors of mediastinum…
Neuroblastoma/Ganglioneuroblastoma Key Facts Terminology Neuroblastoma (NB), ganglioneuroblastoma (GNB) Differentiating neuroblastoma and immature ganglioneuroma both synonyms for GNB Malignant neoplasm composed of immature neural elements (NB) that may be admixed with…
Hodgkin Lymphoma of the Mediastinum Key Facts Clinical Issues Asymptomatic in about 50% of patients (incidental finding on chest x-ray or CT scan) More frequent in young patients; female predilection…
Embryonal Carcinoma Key Facts Terminology Embryonal carcinoma adult type Clinical Issues Incidence Unusual tumor in its pure form More often accompanied with another germ cell tumor, mainly yolk sac tumor…
Yolk Sac Tumor Key Facts Terminology Yolk sac tumor (YST) Endodermal sinus tumor, infantile type embryonal carcinoma Clinical Issues Most common nonseminomatous germ cell tumor in mediastinum May account for…
Idiopathic Sclerosing Mediastinitis Key Facts Etiology/Pathogenesis Most cases are idiopathic May be result of healed infection, such as tuberculosis or toxoplasmosis May represent end stage of burned-out neoplasms, such as…
Ectopic Thyroid Tumor Key Facts Clinical Issues Anterior superior mediastinum; rarely in posterior mediastinum Shortness of breath Symptoms of hyperparathyroidism May be asymptomatic and discovered incidentally on routine chest x-rays…
Neuroendocrine Carcinomas of the Thymus Key Facts Terminology Synonyms: Carcinoid tumor, atypical carcinoid, small cell carcinoma Malignant neoplasms that range from low- to high-grade malignancies Clinical Issues Incidence Thymic neuroendocrine…
