What is Fibrosarcoma of the Mediastinum?
Mediastinal fibrosarcoma is a rare type of cancerous tumour composed of spindle cells and thick collagen stroma cells with a rich vascular blood supply to the tumour. It can originate from the mediastinum, the pleural membrane (the outer protective lining of the lungs), and the inner lining of other body cavities.What is Mediastinum?
The mediastinum is a space in the thorax that contains the heart, thymus gland, portions of the esophagus trachea, and other structures.Disease Causes
There is no well-known cause, however, certain hereditary and genetic mutations are considered responsible for the development of benign fibrosarcoma of the mediastinum.Signs and Symptoms
The patient may suffer from the following signs and symptoms. These are- Persistent dry Cough (cough without sputum)
- Difficulty in breathing
- Pain in the chest
- Unexplained weight loss
- Pain in the back
- Enlargement of the lymph nodes in advanced stage of the disease
Diagnosis
The following diagnostic tests and procedures can be used to make a diagnosis. These are;- Imaging techniques like Chest X-ray, CT-scan, MRI, and PET scan to see the site, size, and extent of the tumour.
- Tumour biopsy (tumour biopsy to remove a small sample of tissue for histopathological examination)
- Sputum cytology
- USG guided fine needle aspiration cytology