title: Mediastinal tumors: diagnosis and treatment.
abstract: Mediastinal tumors are uncommon and often asymptomatic if benign. Tumors have a predilection for arising in one of three mediastinal compartments; anterior, middle, or posterior. If symptoms are present, they are usually compressive in origin. Computed tomography is almost always the imaging modality of choice. Benign-appearing lesions are usually resected for cure. Malignant-appearing lesions usually require biopsy by the least invasive route appropriate for the suspected tumor type.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Blake 1570, 32 Fruit Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02114-2698, USA.
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Mathisen
mesh_terms: D005871:Castleman Disease / Q000601:surgery; D006045:Goiter, Substernal / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D010235:Paraganglioma / Q000601:surgery; D010282:Parathyroid Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D018239:Seminoma / Q000601:surgery; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed