title: Mediastinal syndrome: A report of three cases.
abstract: Mediastinal syndromes are a group of disorders involving the anatomical structures of the mediastinum. An increase in the incidence of this syndrome has been observed following the widespread use of diagnostic imaging. In the present study, three different cases of mediastinal syndrome, one of which was complicated by superior vena cava syndrome, are discussed. The treatment in the three cases was dependent on the etiology. While a patient with goiter experienced resolution of the symptoms following thyroidectomy, and a patient with lymphoma experienced beneficial effects following medical treatment, the patient with lymph node metastasis caused by a gastric tumor succumbed to the disease. In conclusion, the present case reports demonstrated that mediastinal syndrome is a life threatening condition whose prognosis depends on the underlying cause.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine and Rheumatology, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, I-00128 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Enrico Maria
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Zardi
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine and Rheumatology, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, I-00128 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Elena
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Pipita
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine and Rheumatology, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, I-00128 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Afeltra
keywords: gastric cancer; goiter; lymphoma; therapy