Tumors in the mediastinum are masses, benign or malignant, that develop in the space between the lungs, which houses organs such as the heart, part of the esophagus, part of the trachea, part of the aorta, and the thymus.

Anterior: Front part of the chest
Middle: Contains the pericardial sac and its contents
Posterior: Thoracic spine

In children, most tumors found in this region are benign. In adults, some result from metastases, meaning a new tumor formation arising from a previous one. In most cases, cancerous masses are related to the regions where they are located. Therefore, the most common mediastinal tumors, classified by region, are:

  Anterior mediastinal tumors: Thymoma, Thymic carcinoma, Germ cell tumors, Goiter, Parathyroid adenoma, and Lymphoma (which can be Hodgkin or Non-Hodgkin types).
  Middle mediastinal tumors: Bronchogenic cysts and Pericardial cysts.
  Posterior mediastinal tumors: Esophageal cysts, Peripheral nerve tumors, and Sympathetic ganglion tumors.

Most of these cancer types do not present distinctive symptoms and are often mistaken for other diseases. Diagnosis is made through tests such as X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs. The main symptoms of mediastinal tumors include:

  Cough
  Dyspnea or shortness of breath
  Chest pain
  Fever
  Recurrent respiratory infections

Pericardial cysts are generally benign formations, characterized by the presence of internal fluid and their origin is congenital, i.e. they formed during the embryonic growth phase.

The pericardium is a saccular membrane that surrounds the heart and the roots of the great vessels. Its main function is to protect and support the heart in the diaphragm. It has the capacity to expand during contractions and has an inner layer, which contains enough fluid to lubricate the heart muscles.

These cysts are usually asymptomatic and are found accidentally in routine examinations, such as X-rays. Although they are benign formations, their overgrowth compresses other organs and can lead to the patient developing heart failure.

The main symptoms of pericardial cysts are:

  Pain in one shoulder radiating to the other
  Palpitations
  Shortness of breath
  A feeling of heaviness in the chest

Pneumothorax is a medical condition that develops when air from the lungs accumulates between the lungs and the chest wall, causing difficulty in breathing. In more severe cases, it can lead to the displacement of the heart and other important blood vessels, potentially resulting in death. There are four types of Pneumothorax:

  Spontaneous pneumothorax: There is no definitive cause, and it is more common in people aged 30 to 40. Air bubbles form in the lungs and may rupture, causing air to leak into the pleura, the membrane surrounding the lungs.
  Traumatic pneumothorax: Air accumulates between the lungs and the chest wall following a blow, fall, or other accidents.
  Iatrogenic pneumothorax: Occurs after a medical procedure, such as the insertion of a central venous catheter for medication delivery.
  Tension pneumothorax: The rupture of an air bubble can cause damage to the pleura, allowing air to accumulate between the lungs and chest wall. With each breath, more air gathers in this region and is not expelled. This air accumulation can lead to death, as the lungs are compressed, eventually causing the displacement of the heart or other vessels.

The main symptoms of a pneumothorax are:

  Feeling of a racing heart
  Shortness of breath (dyspnea) and fatigue
  Sudden and sharp chest pain
  Cyanosis, which is the darkening of extremities and lips due to lack of oxygen
  Cough