MEDIASTINAL CANCER

Course overview

THE MEDIASTINUM IS A CAVITY THAT SEPARATES THE LUNGS FROM THE OTHER STRUCTURES IN THE CHEST. GENERALLY, IT IS FURTHER DIVIDED INTO THREE MAIN PARTS: ANTERIOR MEDIASTINUM, POSTERIOR MEDIASTINUM, AND MIDDLE MEDIASTINUM. CANCERS IN THE MEDIASTINUM CAN DEVELOP FROM STRUCTURES THAT ARE ANATOMICALLY LOCATED INSIDE THE MEDIASTINUM OR THAT TRANSVERSE THROUGH THE MEDIASTINUM DURING DEVELOPMENT, AND ALSO FROM METASTASES OR MALIGNANCIES THAT ORIGINATE ELSEWHERE IN THE BODY.