What is the function of the mediastinum?
The mediastinum houses many vital structures including the heart, great vessels, trachea, and essential nerves. It also functions as a protected pathway for structures traversing from the neck, superiorly, and into the abdomen, inferiorly.
What is mediastinum in CT scan?
The mediastinum is a space in the thorax that contains a group of organs, vessels, nerves, lymphatics and their surrounding connective tissue. It lies in the midline of the chest between the pleura of each lung and extends from the sternum to the vertebral column.
What does mediastinal mass mean?
It encompasses the heart, aorta, esophagus, thymus (a gland in the back of the neck) and trachea (windpipe). When tumors develop in this area, they are called mediastinal tumors. Mediastinal tumors are rare but, due to their location, can be serious.
What is heart mediastinum?
mediastinum, the anatomic region located between the lungs that contains all the principal tissues and organs of the chest except the lungs. The mediastinum is a division of the thoracic cavity; it contains the heart, thymus gland, portions of the esophagus and trachea, and other structures.
What is mediastinal abnormality?
Common symptoms of mediastinal disease include cough, chest pain, and dyspnoea, as well as symptoms relating to any structure being compressed such as dysphagia, stridor, or SVCO. Mediastinal disorders can also be asymptomatic. They may be found incidentally following a CXR.
Who treats mediastinal mass?
Thoracic surgery Thoracic surgeons treat patients who require surgical solution to diseases and disorders of the chest, including mediastinal tumors.
Can a mediastinal mass be removed?
Surgical Removal of a Mediastinal Tumor We can remove a mediastinal tumor in several ways. The most common are: Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS): We use a camera that projects images on a monitor to observe the chest cavity. This helps us remove the mediastinal or lung tumors.
What is superior mediastinum?
The superior mediastinum is the region sandwiched between the pleural sac on each side above an imaginary line from the angle of Louis in front to the fourth/fifth thoracic intervertebral disc behind.
What is the mediastinal pleura?
Listen to pronunciation. (MEE-dee-uh-STY-nul PLOOR-uh) The thin membrane that lines the chest cavity in the area between the lungs.