title: A clinicopathological study of mediastinal masses operated in a tertiary care hospital in Eastern India in 3 years with special reference to thymoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The mediastinum is the central portion of the thoracic cavity, limited by pleural cavities laterally, thoracic inlet superiorly, and the diaphragm inferiorly. Housing numerous organs, it is a veritable Pandora's box, within which various lesions may develop. This study was conducted to assess the epidemiologic profile, clinicoradiological features, cytological, and histopathological findings in patients presenting with mediastinal masses in a tertiary care hospital over a period of 3 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective study of cases presenting with mediastinal masses attending the Cardiothoracic Surgery Department of Medical College, Kolkata between May 2011 and April 2014. Detailed history, physical, and radiological findings were noted. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) was performed when feasible. Following surgery, histopathological, and immunohistochemical (IHC) examinations of the specimens were undertaken.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 22 cases included in our study, ten were anterior, seven middle, and five posterior mediastinal masses. Fifteen cases were male and seven were female. Thymic pathology was detected in seven cases, lymphoma in five, extragonadal germ cell tumor (GCT) in three, schwannoma and pericardial cyst in two cases each and neurofibroma, ganglioneuroma, and retrosternal thyroid in one case each. The age group of the patients for each diagnostic category was found to be of significance. FNAC was done in 15 cases. IHC was required for classification of lymphoma cases (CD45, CD15, CD30, CD20, CD3, Tdt, CD34, and Ki-67).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study reflects the incidence of different mediastinal masses in West Bengal with their clinicopathologic correlation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Medical College, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Senjuti
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dasgupta
authors.forename: Debdas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bose
authors.forename: Nirmal Kumar
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Bhattacharyya
authors.forename: Maitrayee
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saha
authors.forename: Keya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Biswas
authors.forename: Pranab Kumar
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Biswas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003584:Cytological Techniques; D005260:Female; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D013945:Thymoma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult