Chemotherapy of Mediastinal Tumors

Abstract

Many tumors of the mediastinum are benign; others are of low-grade malignancy. Complete surgical excision is frequently curative. There are some tumors which are either locally invasive or have a tendency to metastasize, and which are sensitive to treatment with cytoxic drugs. Indeed, with some tumors, chemotherapy is a principal component of treatment, surgery being necessary only for diagnosis. Malignant mediastinal tumors which respond to cytoxic drugs are listed below:

• 1. Tumors that are highly sensitive to chemotherapy

  • a) Hodgkin’s disease

  • b) Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

  • c) Germ cell tumors

• 2. Tumors that are partially sensitive to chemotherapy

• a) Thymoma

• b) Some sarcomas The decision on whether to treat a patient with a malignant mediastinal tumor with chemotherapy, therefore, depends on (a) accurate histological diagnosis and (b) staging of the neoplasm, in particular the demonstration of metastatic disease.