Mediastinal Tumors Program

Overview

The Mediastinal Tumors Program at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi treats tumors of mediastinal origin. These are tumors that grow in the middle of the chest, in the area that separates the lungs. Tumors in this area include those from the thymus, nerves, lymphatic tissue such as lymph nodes, connective tissue or germ cells.

Every patient who comes for treatment of a mediastinal tumor receives Patients First care throughout diagnosis and treatment, which may include surgery, chemotherapy, and innovative, advanced approaches to treatment.

Why Choose Us?

The Mediastinal Tumors Program at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi provides specialized care and support for people diagnosed with mediastinal tumors, close to home.

We offer a comprehensive Thoracic Cancer Program supported by a multidisciplinary team of regarded thoracic experts. Taking a team approach to your treatment, care is coordinated among our specialists, and we offer a range of support services, ensuring you receive the highest quality care. This collaborative approach allows us to focus our entire team’s expertise and energy on providing the best strategies for diagnosing and treating our patients, supporting the best possible outcomes.

Our multidisciplinary tumor board meets once a week to discuss each patient. Specialists in treating lung cancers and tumors, esophageal cancer and other cancers of the chest sit together to talk through the best treatment options, including clinical trials, for each individual. Patients get the benefit of several expert opinions.

What We Treat

Mediastinal tumors are growths that form in the area of the chest that separates the lungs, called the mediastinum. The mediastinum is the part of the chest that lies between the sternum and the spinal column and between the lungs. The mediastinal area is where the heart, esophagus, aorta, trachea, thymus, nerves and lymph nodes sit.

Tumors that develop in the mediastinum may be malignant (cancerous) or benign (non-cancerous). Because some tumors tend to grow in specific areas of the mediastinum, they are divided into three sections: either front (anterior), middle or back (posterior).

Anterior (front) mediastinum

• Lymphoma: A cancer that begins in the cells of the immune system. These tumors are divided into 2 categories of Malignant tumors, Hodgkin’s disease and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
• Thyroid mass mediastinal: Often a benign mass, such as a goiter.
• Thymoma and thymic tumor: Formed in the thymus gland, most are non-cancerous, but around 30% may be more aggressive and invade other tissue.
• Germ cell: Is a tumor that forms in cells that are still growing. These tumors can be malignant, but most are benign masses.

Middle mediastinum

• Bronchogenic cyst: A benign growth that originates in the respiratory organs.
• Pericardial cyst: A benign growth from a protruding of the heart’s lining (pericardium).
• Lymphadenopathy mediastinal: An enlargement of the lymph nodes.
• Tracheal tumors: Can be malignant or benign.
• Esophageal abnormalities: Including diverticulum, achalasia esophageal, and hiatal hernia.
• Esophageal tumors: Can be malignant or benign.
• Vascular abnormalities: Including aortic dissection and aortic aneurysm.

Posterior (back) mediastinum

• Neurogenic tumors: A common cause of posterior mediastinal tumors, they are either nerve sheath neoplasms, paraganglionic cell neoplasms or ganglion cell neoplasms. Most are benign.
• Extramedullary haematopoiesis: A rare cause of masses from bone marrow growth. They are associated with severe anemia.
• Lymphadenopathy: Enlarged lymph nodes.
• Paravertebral abnormalities: Infectious, traumatic or malignant abnormalities within the thoracic spine.
• Vascular abnormalities: Including aortic aneurisms.
• Neuroenteric cyst: Neural and gastrointestinal factors cause a rare growth.