Mediastinal masses have always been a diagnostic as well as therapeutic dilemma for medical professionals. Most of the clinical studies on mediastinal masses are retrospective single institutional studies [1,2]. Moreover the study population in these studies include children and adults as well as benign and malignant mediastinal masses [3]. The clinical profile of malignant mediastinal masses in children is different as compared to adults [3]. Most of these studies represent the western literature and may not be reflective of our Indian patient cohort [4,5]. Various published reports have shown Hodgkin lymphoma, T cell leukemia and thymoma as important etiologies of mediastinal masses. However, the conclusions of each study vary depending on the study population, age group and center bias. Clinical profile of superior mediastinal syndrome, the most life threatening complication of malignant mediastinal masses is scarce in literature. A prospective clinical study with adequate sample size on malignant mediastinal masses will be helpful from the clinician's perspective to arrive at a differential diagnosis and for prognostication of mediastinal masses. Hence, this study was planned with the objectives of determining clinical presentation, etiology and treatment outcome of newly diagnosed malignant mediastinal masses in children.
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