title: Presentation of primary mediastinal masses in Ibadan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine clinical features, anatomic location and histological types of primary mediastinal masses diagnosed and treated in a black African population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study of clinical data collected from patients case notes, the cardiothoracic unit's and pathology records between June 1975 and May 1999.
  
  
  METHODS
  University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria which hosts a major cancer center in the West African sub-region, and serves community clinics.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients with primary mediastinal masses referred for evaluation and treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Excluded metastatic, oesophageal and vascular-lesions. All patients had radiological evalulation and tissue biopsies. The anatomic subdivision of the mediastinum into anterosuperior, middle and posterior section was used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and five consecutive patients were evaluated and treated. The mean age was 34.0 +/- 20.4 years. There were 75 males and 30 females. Eighty one (77.1%) were symptomatic, 24 (22.9%) were asymptomatic. Thirty seven (45.7%) of the symptomatic patients had malignant disease while 44 (54.3%) had benign disease. Forty five patients (43%) and 60 patients (57%) had malignant and benign diseases respectively. Incidence of symptoms, was 82.2% for malignant and 73.3% for benign diseases. This difference in incidences is statistically insignificant (p=0.283). Majority of asymptomatic patients (70.8%) had benign disease while 29.2% of patients with malignancy were asymptomatic. This difference in incidence was statistically significant (p=0.0039). The frequency of mediastinal masses were anterosuperior, in 67 patients (63.8%), posterior mediastinal, 24 patients (22.9%) and middle mediastinal in 14 patients (13.3%). Lymphoma 23 (21.9%), thymus glands tumours 19 (18.1%) and endocrine tumours (goiters) 18 (17.1%) were the commonest types of primary mediastinal masses treated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Majority of our patients with mediastinal masses (whether benign or malignant) are symptomatic and the absence of symptoms is more associated with benign disease. Majority of lesions are situated in the anterosuperior mediastinum. Lymphoma is the most frequent primary mediastinal mass.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University College Hospital, PMB 5116, Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: V O
authors.initials: VO
authors.lastname: Adegboye
authors.forename: A O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Ogunseyinde
authors.forename: M O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Obajimi
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ogunbiyi
authors.forename: A I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Brimmo
authors.forename: O A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Adebo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D015994:Incidence; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009373:Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000473:pathology; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology