Middle mediastinal mass

The differential diagnosis for a middle mediastinal mass includes :

• lymphadenopathy
• aneurysm e.g. aortic, pulmonary artery, bronchial artery
• congenital cyst
  • pericardial cyst
  • foregut duplication cyst (e.g. esophageal, bronchial)
• pericardial tumor
• primary/secondary cardiac tumor
• neurogenic tumor (from vagal or phrenic nerves)
• abscess (uncommon)
• esophageal masses e.g. leiomyomas, esophageal cancer, hiatus hernia *

* esophageal masses are sometimes included in the posterior mediastinum