MEDIASTINUM, mediastinum, plural. no, cf. 1. The space between the spine and the sternum, in which the heart, aorta, bronchi and other organs are located (anat.). 2. transfer A barrier, an obstacle that prevents communication between two parties (book). “...Abolish... ... Ushakov's Explanatory Dictionary

MEDIASTINUM- MEDIASTINUM, mediastinum (from Latin in me dio stans standing in the middle), the space located between the right and left pleural cavities and limited laterally by the pleura mediastinalis, dorsally by the thoracic spine by the ischs of the ribs... Great Medical Encyclopedia

Mediastinum- (anatomical), part of the chest cavity in mammals and humans, in which the heart, trachea and esophagus are located. In humans, the mediastinum is limited on the sides by the pleural sacs (they contain the lungs), below by the diaphragm, in front by the sternum, behind... ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

MEDIA, I, cf. (specialist.). The place in the middle part of the chest cavity where the heart, trachea, esophagus, and nerve trunks are located. | adj. mediastinal, oh, oh. Ozhegov's explanatory dictionary. S.I. Ozhegov, N.Yu. Shvedova. 1949 1992 … Ozhegov's Explanatory Dictionary

- (mediastinum), the middle part of the thoracic cavity of mammals, which contains the heart with large vessels, trachea and esophagus. Bounded anteriorly by the sternum, posteriorly by the thoracic spine, laterally by the pleura, and inferiorly by the diaphragm; top, considered the border... Biological encyclopedic dictionary Publisher: Publishing Solutions, eBook(fb2, fb3, epub, mobi, pdf, html, pdb, lit, doc, rtf, txt)

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Meaning of the word mediastinum

mediastinum in the crossword dictionary

Dictionary of medical terms

mediastinum (mediastinum, PNA, JNA; septum mediastinale, BNA)

part of the thoracic cavity located between the right and left pleural sacs, bounded in front by the sternum, behind by the thoracic spine, below by the diaphragm, above by the superior aperture of the chest.

Explanatory dictionary of the Russian language. D.N. Ushakov

mediastinum

mediastinum, plural no, cf.

The space between the spine and the sternum, in which the heart, aorta, bronchi and other organs are located (anat.).

trans. A barrier, an obstacle that prevents communication between two parties (book). :Abolish the districts, which are turning into an unnecessary mediastinum between the region and the districts: Stalin (report of the Central Committee at the XVI Congress of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks), 1930).

Explanatory dictionary of the Russian language. S.I.Ozhegov, N.Yu.Shvedova.

mediastinum

I, Wed. (specialist.). The place in the middle part of the chest cavity where the heart, trachea, esophagus, and nerve trunks are located.

adj. mediastinal, -aya, -oe.

Encyclopedic Dictionary, 1998

mediastinum

in anatomy - part of the thoracic cavity in mammals and humans, in which the heart, trachea and esophagus are located. In humans, the mediastinum is bounded laterally by the pleural sacs (they contain the lungs), below by the diaphragm, in front by the sternum and behind by the spine.

Mediastinum

anatomical region in the human chest cavity, limited in front by the sternum, behind by the thoracic spine, on the sides by the pleura and surfaces of the lungs, below by the diaphragm (see Thoracic obstruction); The upper limit is considered to be a conventional horizontal line passing along the upper edge of the sternum. There are anterior and posterior lungs, separated by the roots of the lungs. The anterior S. contains the heart with the pericardial sac (pericardium), the ascending part of the aorta and its arch with the arterial vessels extending from them, the pulmonary trunk, the superior and inferior vena cava, the pulmonary veins, and the phrenic nerves. In the posterior S. there are the thoracic part of the descending aorta and its branches, the esophagus, the azygos and semi-gypsy veins, the thoracic lymphatic duct, and the vagus and celiac nerves. Closed injuries to S.'s organs occur due to bruises, chest compressions, and sternum fractures. When the lungs or bronchi are damaged and air accumulates, emphysema of the lungs and compression of its organs develop. Open injuries to the lungs are combined with damage to the lungs and often to the abdominal organs. The treatment of these injuries is surgical. Among S.'s diseases, the most common are mediastinitis, retrosternal location of an enlarged thyroid gland, cysts and tumors of S.'s organs, and damage to the S.'s lymph nodes, for example, with lymphogranulomatosis.

Lit.: Petrovsky B.V., Surgery of the mediastinum, M., 1960; Elizarovsky S.I., Kondratyev G.I., Atlas “Surgical anatomy of the mediastinum”, M., 1961; Golbert Z. V., Lavnikova G. A., Tumors and cysts of the mediastinum, M., 1965.

Wikipedia

Mediastinum

Mediastinum- anatomical space in the middle parts of the chest cavity. The mediastinum is limited by the sternum and spine. The mediastinal organs are surrounded by fatty tissue. The pleural cavities are located on the sides of the mediastinum.

Examples of the use of the word mediastinum in the literature.

When examining the chest organs, they are clearly visible mediastinum, great vessels, heart, as well as lungs and lymph nodes.

And it is clear that in these variants and details one can encounter more and more genuine aberrations than in its seed, for the perception of which by the Indian people teleological forces worked for many centuries, spending incredible work on weakening many of its representatives mediastinum between daytime consciousness and deep memory - a repository of memories of the paths of the soul until the moment of its last incarnation.

The cause is an inflammatory process, accumulation of mucus, pus, blood in the respiratory tract, compression of the bronchi by enlarged lymph nodes, displacement of organs mediastinum.

Fiber inflammation mediastinum, is most often caused by a purulent nonspecific infection.

It is most often located in the subcutaneous fatty tissue, in the area of ​​the shoulder blades, on the shoulders, limbs, in the retroperitoneal space, mediastinum and etc.

The air accumulated in the pleural cavity compresses the lung and displaces mediastinum in a healthy direction.

The danger of open pneumothorax is that when breathing, air enters and leaves the pleura, which infects the pleura and leads to balloting mediastinum, irritation of nerve endings and a decrease in the respiratory surface of the lungs.

The contrast between the murder and the blue sky made me feel cruel mediastinum between these two shores, where all principles, images, emotions and premonitions flowed like a chaotic waterfall, knowing no barriers.

The sparkling robot, visibly embodying the countless wealth of its owner, pulled back the silk cover, revealing to all eyes a mirror-polished golden figurine of a naked young man, who was plunging a double-edged sword into the very mediastinum defeated word mill.

Spread of phlegmon of the neck to the anterior and posterior mediastinum often leads to death.

So adults in the war were accustomed to it through everyday life, but for Ivan this mediastinum did not have.

The professor, with a serious look, as if he was doing something very important, determined the limits of his stupidity, the degree of displacement mediastinum etc.

Everyday life, everyday life, everyday life could be like this mediastinum, adaptation of the body to the merciless climate of war.

The flow of ion gas covered them with a dense curtain inside a gravitational oasis in the very mediastinum cluster - a safe haven in which they intended to rest before returning to Coruscant.

The little thymus, the tiny gland of my unborn son, the all-powerful ruler of the immune system, tirelessly destroyed the tumor in my mediastinum, suffocated and crushed the tumor in the lung, drove the cancer away from me.

Mediastinal tumor is a relatively rare pathology. According to statistics, formations in this area occur in no more than 6-7% of all human tumors. Most of them are benign, only a fifth are initially malignant.

Among patients with mediastinal tumors, there are approximately the same number of men and women, and the predominant age of patients is 20-40 years, that is, the most active and young part of the population suffers.

From a morphological point of view, tumors of the mediastinal region are extremely heterogeneous, but almost all of them, even benign in nature, are potentially dangerous due to possible compression of surrounding organs. In addition, the peculiarity of their localization makes them difficult to remove, which is why they seem to be one of the most difficult problems in thoracic surgery.

Most people who are far from medicine have a very vague idea of ​​what the mediastinum is and what organs are located there. In addition to the heart, the structures of the respiratory system, large vascular trunks and nerves, and the lymphatic apparatus of the chest, which can give rise to all sorts of formations, are concentrated in this area.

The mediastinum (mediastinum) is a space, the anterior part of which is formed by the sternum, the anterior sections of the ribs, covered from the inside by the retrosternal fascia. The posterior mediastinal wall is the anterior surface of the spinal column, the prevertebral fascia and the posterior segments of the ribs. The lateral walls are represented by layers of the pleura, and from below the mediastinal space is closed by the diaphragm. The upper part does not have a clear anatomical boundary; it is an imaginary plane running through the upper end of the sternum.

Within the mediastinum are the thymus, the upper segment of the superior vena cava, the aortic arch and arterial vascular lines originating from it, the thoracic lymphatic duct, nerve fibers, fiber, the esophagus passes behind, the heart in the pericardial sac is located in the middle zone, the zone of division of the trachea into bronchi, pulmonary vessels.

The mediastinum is divided into upper, middle and lower floors, as well as anterior, middle and posterior parts. To analyze the extent of tumor spread, the mediastinum is conventionally divided into upper and lower halves, the border between which is the upper part of the pericardium.

The posterior mediastinum is characterized by the growth of neoplasia from lymphoid tissue (), neurogenic tumors, and metastatic cancers of other organs. In the anterior mediastinal region, lymphoma and teratoid tumors, mesenchymomas from connective tissue components are formed, and the risk of malignancy of neoplasia of the anterior mediastinum is higher than in other parts. In the middle mediastinum, lymphomas, cystic cavities of bronchogenic and dysembryogenetic origin, and other cancers are formed.

Tumors of the upper mediastinum are thymomas, lymphomas and intrathoracic goiter, as well as. In the middle floor, thymomas and bronchogenic cysts are found, and in the lower mediastinal region, pericardial cysts and fatty tumors are found.

Classification of mediastinal neoplasia

The tissues of the mediastinum are extremely diverse, so tumors in this area are united only by a common location, otherwise they are diverse and have different sources of development.

Tumors of the mediastinal organs can be primary, that is, initially growing from the tissues of this area of ​​the body, as well as secondary - metastatic nodes of cancer of another localization.

Primary mediastinal neoplasias are distinguished by histogenesis, that is, the tissue that became the ancestor of the pathology:

• Neurogenic - ganglioneuroma - grow from peripheral nerves and nerve ganglia;
• Mesenchymal - fibroma, etc.;
• Lymphoproliferative - Hodgkin's disease, lymphoma, lymphosarcoma;
• Dysontogenetic (formed due to a violation of embryonic development) - teratomas, chorionepithelioma;
• - neoplasia of the thymus gland.

Mediastinal neoplasms are mature and immature, while mediastinal cancer is not an entirely correct formulation, given the sources of its origin. Epithelial neoplasia is called cancer, and connective tissue formations and teratomas are found in the mediastinum. Cancer in the mediastinum is possible, but it will be secondary, that is, it will arise as a result of metastasis of carcinoma of another organ.

Thymomas- These are tumors of the thymus gland that affect people 30-40 years old. They make up approximately one fifth of all mediastinal tumors. There are malignant thymoma with a high degree of invasion (sprouting) of surrounding structures, and benign. Both varieties are diagnosed with approximately equal frequency.

Dysembryonic neoplasia- also not uncommon in the mediastinum; up to a third of all teratomas are malignant. They are formed from embryonic cells that have remained here since intrauterine development, and contain components of epidermal and connective tissue origin. Usually the pathology is detected in adolescents. Immature teratomas grow actively and metastasize to the lungs and nearby lymph nodes.

Favorite location of tumors neurogenic origin- nerves of the posterior mediastinum. Carriers can be the vagus and intercostal nerves, spinal membranes, and sympathetic plexus. They usually grow without causing any concern, but the spread of neoplasia into the spinal cord canal can cause compression of the nervous tissue and neurological symptoms.

Tumors of mesenchymal origin- the widest group of neoplasms, diverse in structure and source. They can develop in all parts of the mediastinum, but more often in the anterior part. Lipomas are benign tumors of adipose tissue, usually unilateral, can spread up or down the mediastinum, penetrating from the anterior to the posterior part.

Lipomas They have a soft consistency, which is why symptoms of compression of adjacent tissues do not occur, and pathology is discovered by chance during examination of the chest organs. Its malignant counterpart, liposarcoma, is extremely rarely diagnosed in the mediastinum.

Fibroids are formed from fibrous connective tissue, grow asymptomatically for a long time, and call the clinic when they reach large sizes. They can be multiple, of different shapes and sizes, and have a connective tissue capsule. Malignant fibrosarcoma grows quickly and provokes the formation of effusion in the pleural cavity.

Hemangiomas- tumors from blood vessels are quite rare in the mediastinum, but usually affect its anterior section. Neoplasms from lymphatic vessels - lymphangiomas, hygromas - are usually found in children, form nodes, and can grow into the neck, causing displacement of other organs. Uncomplicated forms are asymptomatic.

Mediastinal cyst- This is a tumor-like process, which is a rounded cavity. Cysts can be congenital or acquired. Congenital cysts are considered a consequence of a disorder of embryonic development, and their source can be tissue of the bronchus, intestines, pericardium, etc. - bronchogenic, enterogenic cystic formations, teratomas. Secondary cysts are formed from the lymphatic system and tissues that are normally present here.

Symptoms of mediastinal tumors

For a long time, a mediastinal tumor can grow hidden, and signs of the disease appear later, when compression of the surrounding tissues occurs, they grow, and metastasis begins. In such cases, pathology is detected during examination of the chest organs for other reasons.

The location, volume and degree of differentiation of the tumor determine the duration of the asymptomatic period. Malignant tumors grow faster, so the clinic appears earlier.

The main signs of mediastinal tumors include:

1. Symptoms of compression or invasion of neoplasia into surrounding structures;
2. General changes;
3. Specific changes.

The main manifestation of the pathology is pain, which is associated with the pressure of the neoplasm or its invasion of nerve fibers. This sign is characteristic not only of immature, but also of completely benign tumor processes. The pain is on the side of the growth pathology, not too intense, nagging, can radiate to the shoulder, neck, interscapular area. With left-sided pain, it can be very similar to that of angina pectoris.

An increase in pain in the bones is considered an unfavorable symptom, which most likely indicates possible metastasis. For the same reason, pathological fractures are possible.

Characteristic symptoms appear when nerve fibers are involved in tumor growth:

• Drooping of the eyelid (ptosis), recessed eye and dilated pupil due to neoplasia, sweating disorder, fluctuations in skin temperature indicate involvement of the sympathetic plexus;
• Hoarseness of voice (the laryngeal nerve is affected);
• Increased level of the diaphragm during germination of the phrenic nerves;
• Sensitivity disorders, paresis and paralysis due to compression of the spinal cord and its roots.

One of the symptoms of compression syndrome is the narrowing of the venous lines by a tumor, more often the superior vena cava, which is accompanied by difficulty in venous outflow from the tissues of the upper body and head. Patients in this case complain of noise and a feeling of heaviness in the head, increasing when bending, pain in the chest, shortness of breath, swelling and cyanosis of the facial skin, dilation and overflow of blood in the neck veins.

The pressure of the neoplasm on the respiratory tract provokes coughing and difficulty breathing, and compression of the esophagus is accompanied by dysphagia, when it is difficult for the patient to eat.

General signs of tumor growth are weakness, decreased performance, fever, sweating, weight loss, which indicate the malignancy of the pathology. The progressive enlargement of the tumor causes intoxication with the products of its metabolism, which is associated with joint pain, edema, tachycardia, and arrhythmias.

Specific symptoms characteristic of certain types of mediastinal neoplasms. For example, lymphosarcoma causes itchy skin and sweating, while fibrosarcoma occurs with episodes of hypoglycemia. Intrathoracic goiter with elevated hormone levels is accompanied by signs of thyrotoxicosis.

Symptoms of a mediastinal cyst is associated with the pressure it exerts on neighboring organs, so the manifestations will depend on the size of the cavity. In most cases, cysts are asymptomatic and do not cause any discomfort to the patient.

When a large cystic cavity puts pressure on the mediastinal contents, shortness of breath, coughing, difficulty swallowing, a feeling of heaviness and chest pain may occur.

Dermoid cysts, which are a consequence of intrauterine development disorders, often give symptoms of cardiac and vascular disorders: shortness of breath, cough, heart pain, increased heart rate. When the cyst is opened into the lumen of the bronchus, a cough appears with the release of sputum, in which hair and fat are visible.

Dangerous complications of cysts are their ruptures with an increase in pneumothorax, hydrothorax, and the formation of fistulas in the chest cavities. Bronchogenic cysts can suppurate and lead to hemoptysis when opened into the lumen of the bronchus.

Thoracic surgeons and pulmonologists often encounter neoplasms in the mediastinal region. Given the variety of symptoms, diagnosing mediastinal pathology presents significant difficulties. To confirm the diagnosis, radiography, MRI, CT, as well as endoscopic procedures (bronchoscopy and mediastinoscopy) are used. A biopsy can definitively verify the diagnosis.

Video: lecture on the diagnosis of tumors and mediastinal cysts

Treatment

Surgery is recognized as the only correct method of treatment for mediastinal tumors. The sooner it is performed, the better the prognosis for the patient. For benign formations, open intervention is performed with complete excision of the focus of neoplasia growth. In case of malignancy of the process, the most radical removal is indicated, and depending on the sensitivity to other types of antitumor treatment, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are prescribed, both independently and in combination with surgery.

When planning a surgical procedure, it is extremely important to choose the right approach that will give the surgeon the best view and space for manipulation. The likelihood of relapse or progression of the pathology depends on the radicality of the removal.

Radical removal of tumors in the mediastinal area is performed by thoracoscopy or thoracotomy - anterolateral or lateral. If the pathology is located retrosternally or on both sides of the chest, longitudinal sternotomy with incision of the sternum is considered preferable.

Videothoracoscopy- a relatively new method of treating a mediastinal tumor, in which the intervention is accompanied by minimal surgical trauma, but, at the same time, the surgeon has the opportunity to examine the affected area in detail and remove the altered tissue. Videothoracoscopy allows achieving high treatment results even in patients with serious underlying pathology and a small functional reserve for further recovery.

In case of severe concomitant diseases that complicate surgery and anesthesia, palliative treatment is carried out in the form of tumor removal using transthoracic ultrasound or partial excision of tumor tissue to decompress mediastinal formations.

Video: lecture on surgery for mediastinal tumors

Forecast for mediastinal tumors is ambiguous and depends on the type and degree of differentiation of the tumor. For thymomas, cysts, retrosternal goiter, mature connective tissue neoplasia, it is favorable provided they are removed in a timely manner. Malignant tumors not only compress and grow into organs, disrupting their function, but also actively metastasize, which leads to an increase in cancer intoxication, the development of serious complications and the death of the patient.

The author selectively answers adequate questions from readers within his competence and only within the OnkoLib.ru resource. Face-to-face consultations and assistance in organizing treatment are not provided at this time.

A mediastinal tumor is a neoplasm in the mediastinal space of the chest, which can vary in morphological structure. Benign neoplasms are often diagnosed, but approximately every third patient is diagnosed with oncology.

There are a large number of predisposing factors that determine the appearance of a particular formation, ranging from addiction to bad habits and dangerous working conditions, ending with metastasis of a cancer tumor from other organs.

The disease manifests itself in a large number of pronounced symptoms that are quite difficult to ignore. The most characteristic external signs include severe cough, shortness of breath, headaches and increased body temperature.

The basis of diagnostic measures is instrumental examinations of the patient, the most informative of which is considered to be a biopsy. In addition, a medical examination and laboratory tests will be required. Treatment of the disease, regardless of the nature of the tumor, is only surgical.

Etiology

Despite the fact that tumors and cysts of the mediastinum are a rather rare disease, its occurrence in most cases is caused by the spread of the oncological process from other internal organs. However, there are a number of predisposing factors, among which it is worth highlighting:

• long-term addiction to bad habits, in particular smoking. It is worth noting that the more experience a person has of smoking cigarettes, the greater the likelihood of acquiring such an insidious disease;
• decreased immune system;
• contact with toxins and heavy metals - this includes both working conditions and unfavorable environmental conditions. For example, living near factories or industrial enterprises;
• constant exposure to ionizing radiation;
• prolonged nervous overstrain;
• poor nutrition.

This disease occurs equally in both sexes. The main risk group consists of people of working age - from twenty to forty years. In rare cases, malignant or benign neoplasms of the mediastinum can be diagnosed in a child.

The danger of the disease lies in the wide variety of tumors, which may differ in their morphological structure, damage to vital organs and the technical complexity of their surgical excision.

The mediastinum is usually divided into three floors:

• upper;
• average;
• lower.

In addition, there are three sections of the lower mediastinum:

• front;
• rear;
• average.

Depending on the part of the mediastinum, the classification of malignant or benign neoplasms will differ.

Classification

According to the etiological factor, mediastinal tumors and cysts are divided into:

• primary – originally formed in this area;
• secondary – characterized by the spread of metastases from malignant tumors that are located outside the mediastinum.

Since primary neoplasms are formed from various tissues, they will be divided into:

• neurogenic tumors of the mediastinum;
• mesenchymal;
• lymphoid;
• thymus tumors;
• dysembryogenetic;
• germ cell - develop from the primary germ cells of the embryo, from which sperm and eggs should normally be formed. It is these tumors and cysts that are found in children. There are two peaks of incidence - in the first year of life and in adolescence - from fifteen to nineteen years.

There are several most common types of neoplasms, which will differ in their location. For example, tumors of the anterior mediastinum include:

• neoplasms of the thyroid gland. They are often benign, but sometimes they are cancerous;
• thymoma and thymic cyst;
• mesenchymal tumors;

In the middle mediastinum, the most common formations are:

• bronchogenic cysts;
• lymphomas;
• pericardial cysts.

A tumor of the posterior mediastinum manifests itself:

• enterogenous cysts;
• neurogenic tumors.

In addition, clinicians usually distinguish between true cysts and pseudotumors.

Symptoms

For quite a long period of time, tumors and cysts of the mediastinum can occur without expressing any symptoms. The duration of this course is determined by several factors:

• place of formation and volume of neoplasms;
• their malignant or benign nature;
• the rate of tumor or cyst growth;
• relationship with other internal organs.

In most cases, asymptomatic mediastinal tumors are discovered completely by accident - during fluorography for another disease or for preventive purposes.

As for the period of expression of symptoms, regardless of the nature of the tumor, the first sign is pain in the chest area. Its appearance is caused by compression or germination of the formation into the nerve plexuses or endings. The pain is often moderate. The possibility of pain radiating to the area between the shoulder blades, shoulders and neck cannot be ruled out.

Against the background of the main manifestation, other symptoms of mediastinal tumors begin to appear. Among them:

• fatigue and malaise;
• increased body temperature;
• severe headaches;
• bluish lips;
• dyspnea;
• swelling of the face and neck;
• cough - sometimes with blood;
• uneven breathing, even attacks of suffocation;
• heart rate instability;
• profuse sweating, especially at night;
• causeless weight loss;
• increase in the volume of lymph nodes;
• hoarseness of voice;
• night snoring;
• increased blood pressure;
• slurred speech;
• disruption of the process of chewing and swallowing food.

In addition to the above symptoms, myasthenic syndrome very often appears, which is manifested by muscle weakness. For example, a person cannot turn his head, open his eyes, or raise his leg or arm.

Similar clinical manifestations are typical for mediastinal tumors in children and adults.

Diagnostics

Despite the variety and specificity of the symptoms of such a disease, it is quite difficult to establish a correct diagnosis based on them. For this reason, the attending physician prescribes a whole range of diagnostic examinations.

Primary diagnosis includes:

• a detailed interview with the patient will help determine the first time of onset and the degree of intensity of symptom expression;
• a clinician’s examination of the patient’s medical history and life history to determine the primary or secondary nature of the tumors;
• a thorough physical examination, which should include auscultation of the patient’s lungs and heart using a phonendoscope, examination of the condition of the skin, and measurement of temperature and blood pressure.

General laboratory diagnostic methods do not have any particular diagnostic value; however, clinical and biochemical blood tests are necessary. A blood test is also prescribed to determine tumor markers that will indicate the presence of a malignant neoplasm.

In order to determine the location and nature of the neoplasm according to the classification of the disease, it is necessary to carry out instrumental examinations, including:

Treatment

After confirming the diagnosis, a benign or malignant mediastinal tumor should be surgically removed.

Surgical treatment can be carried out in several ways:

• longitudinal sternotomy;
• anterolateral or lateral thoracotomy;
• transthoracic ultrasound aspiration;
• radical extended surgery;
• palliative removal.

In addition, if the tumor is malignant, treatment is supplemented with chemotherapy, which is aimed at:

• reduction of the volume of malignant formation - carried out before the main operation;
• the final elimination of cancer cells that may not have been completely removed during surgery;
• elimination of a tumor or cyst - in cases where surgical therapy cannot be performed;
• maintaining the condition and prolonging the patient’s life – when diagnosing a severe form of the disease.

Along with chemotherapy, radiation treatment can be used, which can also be the main or auxiliary technique.

There are several alternative methods to combat benign tumors. The first of them consists of a three-day fast, during which you need to refuse any food, and you are allowed to drink only purified water without gas. When choosing such treatment, you must consult with your doctor, since fasting has its own rules.

The therapeutic diet, which is part of complex therapy, includes:

• frequent and fractional food consumption;
• complete rejection of fatty and spicy foods, offal, canned food, smoked meats, pickles, sweets, meat and dairy products. It is these ingredients that can cause the degeneration of benign cells into cancerous ones;
• enriching the diet with legumes, dairy products, fresh fruits, vegetables, cereals, dietary first courses, nuts, dried fruits and herbs;
• cooking food only by boiling, steaming, stewing or baking, but without adding salt and fat;
• plenty of drinking regime;
• control over the temperature of food - it should not be too cold or too hot.

In addition, there are several folk remedies that will help prevent the onset of cancer. The most effective of them include:

Potato flowers will help
prevent cancer

• potato flowers;
• hemlock;
• honey and mumiyo;
• Golden mustache;
• apricot kernels;
• sagebrush;
• white mistletoe.

It is worth noting that starting such therapy on your own can only aggravate the course of the disease, which is why you should consult with your doctor before using traditional recipes.

Prevention

There are no specific preventive measures that can prevent the appearance of a tumor in the anterior mediastinum or any other location. People need to follow a few general rules:

• give up alcohol and cigarettes forever;
• follow safety rules when working with toxins and poisons;
• If possible, avoid emotional and nervous stress;
• follow nutritional recommendations;
• strengthen immunity;
• undergo fluorographic examination annually for preventive purposes.

There is no unambiguous prognosis for such a pathology, since it depends on several factors - location, volume, stage of development, origin of the tumor, the age category of the patient and his condition, as well as the possibility of surgery.

Is everything in the article correct from a medical point of view?

Answer only if you have proven medical knowledge

The mediastinum is an anatomical space, the middle region of the chest. The mediastinum is limited in front by the sternum, and in the back by the spine. On the sides of this organ there are pleural cavities.

For various purposes (surgery, planning radiation therapy, describing the localization of pathology), the mediastinum, in accordance with the scheme proposed by Twining in 1938, is divided into upper and lower, as well as anterior, posterior and middle sections.

Anterior, middle, posterior mediastinum

The anterior mediastinum is limited in front by the sternum, in the back by the brachiocephalic veins, pericardium and brachiocephalic trunk. In this space there are the internal mammary veins, the thoracic artery, the mediastinal lymph nodes and the thymus gland.

Structure of the middle mediastinum: heart, vena cava, brachiocephalic veins and brachiocephalic trunk, aortic arch, ascending aorta, phrenic veins, main bronchi, trachea, pulmonary veins and arteries.

The posterior mediastinum is limited by the trachea and pericardium in the anterior part, and in the posterior part by the spine. This part of the organ contains the esophagus, descending aorta, thoracic lymphatic duct, semi-gyzygos and azygos veins, as well as the posterior lymph nodes of the mediastinum.

Superior and inferior mediastinum

The superior mediastinum includes all the anatomical structures that lie above the upper edge of the pericardium: its boundaries are the superior sternal aperture and the line drawn between the angle of the chest and the intervertebral disc Th4-Th5.

The inferior mediastinum is limited by the superior edges of the diaphragm and pericardium and, in turn, is also divided into anterior, middle and posterior parts.

Classification of mediastinal tumors

Neoplasms of the organ are considered not only true tumors of the mediastinum, but also tumor-like diseases and cysts that differ in etiology, localization and course of the disease. Each of the mediastinal neoplasms originates from tissues of different origins, united only by anatomical boundaries. They are divided into:

Mediastinal tumors are detected mainly in young and middle age with equal frequency in both men and women. Despite the fact that mediastinal diseases may not manifest themselves for a long time and are detected only during a preventive study, there are several symptoms that characterize disorders of this anatomical space:

• Mild pain localized at the site of the tumor and radiating to the neck, shoulder, and interscapular area;
• Dilation of the pupil, drooping of the eyelid, retraction of the eyeball - can occur if the tumor grows in the borderline sympathetic trunk;
• Hoarseness of voice – originates from damage to the recurrent laryngeal nerve;
• Heaviness, noise in the head, shortness of breath, chest pain, cyanosis and swelling of the face, swelling of the veins of the chest and neck;
• Impaired passage of food through the esophagus.

In the later stages of mediastinal diseases, increased body temperature, general weakness, arthralgic syndrome, cardiac arrhythmia, and swelling of the extremities are observed.

Mediastinal lymphadenopathy

Lymphadenopathy or enlargement of the lymph nodes of a given organ is observed with metastases of carcinoma, lymphomas, as well as some non-tumor diseases (sarcoidosis, tuberculosis, etc.).

The main symptom of the disease is generalized or localized enlargement of the lymph nodes, however, mediastinal lymphadenopathy may have additional manifestations such as:

• Increased body temperature, sweating;
• Loss of body weight;
• Frequent infection of the upper respiratory tract (tonsillitis, pharyngitis, tonsillitis);
• Hepatomegaly and splenomegaly.

Damage to the lymph nodes, characteristic of lymphomas, can be isolated or combined with the germination of tumors into other anatomical structures (trachea, blood vessels, bronchi, pleura, esophagus, lungs).