Tumors of the heart and mediastinum

Tumors of the mediastinum represent a diversity of disease states. The most common causes of an anterior mediastinal mass include the following: thymoma; teratoma; thyroid disease; and lymphoma. Masses of the middle mediastinum are typically congenital cysts, including foregut and pericardial cysts, while those that arise in the posterior mediastinum are often neurogenic tumors. The clinical sequelae of mediastinal masses can range from being asymptomatic to producing symptoms of cough, chest pain, and dyspnea. The cardiac tumors represent another location in the anterior mediastinum. Such tumors include the myxoma, papillary fibroelastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, histiocytoma, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors etc. It is also a useful resource for other medical professionals with special interest in anatomic pathology. We hope that our trainees, students, and readers at all levels of expertise.