The medial region of the thoracic cavity in medicine is called a special term - mediastinum. It contains lungs, bronchi and lymph nodes, which, like any other organs, are susceptible to oncological diseases. One of them is the mediastinal lymphadenopathy, which affects the lymph nodes and is characterized by a significant increase in their size.
Causes of mediastinal lymphadenopathy
Factors contributing to the progression of the disease:
- carcinoma with metastases;
- lymphoma;
- bronchogenic lung cancer;
- malignant neoplasms of the organs of the gastrointestinal tract, mammary glands, thyroid gland, kidneys, larynx.
Mediastinal lymphadenopathy and lung roots cause:
- tuberculosis;
- sarcoidosis .
As shown by medical statistics, the most common cause of pathology is metastatic lung cancer (80% of cases).
Symptoms of lymphadenopathy of the lymph nodes of the mediastinum
Among the obvious clinical manifestations is pain, localized in the center of the chest cavity, irrigating in the shoulders, neck, the area between the scapulae.
If metastases sprout into the spine, there is a disruption in the functions of the spinal cord and impaired ability.
Other symptoms:
- increased body temperature;
- cyanosis of the face;
- cough, shortness of breath ;
- severe pain in the head;
- heart rhythm abnormalities and contractions;
- increased venous pressure;
- weight loss;
- sweating;
- weakness and fatigue.
Treatment of mediastinal lymphadenopathy
The described condition of lymph nodes and increase in their size, as already indicated, arises for various reasons, therefore, therapy should be selected depending on the determining factor.
For non-oncological diseases of an infectious nature antiviral, antiparasitic, antifungal or anti-
If the cause of lymphadenopathy are malignant tumors, specific treatment is required - chemotherapy, radiation, glucocorticosteroid hormones, immunosuppressive therapy. If surgical excision of the tumor and metastases is possible, surgical intervention is recommended.