This volume represents the premier work devoted solely to the complex myriad of mediastinal tumors. The contributors to the state-of-the-art text are clinical investigators of international renown. The diagnosis, natural history, and therapeutic strategies in respect of all mediastinal tumors are thoroughly addressed in a concise and logical manner. An emphasis on the multidisciplinary nature of mediastinal tumors is thematic throughout the text. Moreover, the combined-modality treatment schemes that have been increasingly developed worldwide are analyzed. This textbook will prove of value to all general surgeons, thoracic surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, pulmonologists, and endocrinologists, as well as to nursing and medical students, residents and fellows-in training.

Klappentext

Primary mediastinal tumors are relatively rare. The relative incidence of these tumors indicates that neurogenic tumors are the most common tumor seen constituting 21 % of all cases, thymomas 19%, lymphomas 12.5%, germ cell tumors 10%, primary carcinomas 4.6%, mesenchymal tumors 6%, endocrine tumors 6%, cysts 18%. In adults, the majority of thyroid tumors, thymomas, mediastinal germ cell tumors and teratomas are located in the superior and anterior mediastinum. Of the neurogenic tumors 18% are located in the posterior mediastinum, and 50% of mediastinal lymphomas are in the middle mediastinum. In adults, the incidence of anterosuperior, middle and posterior mediastinal tumors is about 54%, 20% and 26% respectively. However, in children the posterior mediastinum contains 63% of the lesions, the anterior mediastinum contains 26% and the middle mediastinum II %. The majority of the tumors are benign in character with a ratio of benign to malig­ nant of about 60 to 40. The relative incidence of malignant mediastinal tumors in children is about 50%. Even though mediastinal tumors are not common, they represent a unique problem with regards to treatment whether by surgery, radiation therapy and/or systemically administered chemotherapy. The volume by WOOD and THOMAS deals with each of these issues in detail and presents a logical and important approach to the management of mediastinal tumors.

Inhalt

1 Diagnosis of Mediastinal Masses.- 2 Thymoma: Surgical Management.- 3 Thymoma: Radiation and Chemotherapy.- 4 Mediastinal Lymphomas.- 5 Benign Mediastinal Germ Cell Tumors.- 6 Nonseminomatous Germ Cell Tumors of the Mediastinum.- 7 Primary Mediastinal Seminoma.- 8 Endocrine Tumors of the Mediastinum.- 9 Mediastinal Paragangliomas.- 10 Neurogenic Tumors of the Mediastinum.- 11 Cardiac Neoplasms.- 12 Tracheal Tumors.- 13 Mesenchymal Tumors of the Mediastinum.- 14 Undifferentiated Carcinoma of the Mediastinum.- 15 The Role of Three-Dimensional Conformal Radiotherapy in the Treatment of Mediastinal Tumors.- List of Contributors.