ABSTRACT
The classical anatomical classification of the mediastinum reports four compartments: anterior, superior, middle, and posterior. Many histologic subtypes of lymphoma can arise in the chest, but only few of these present with isolated mediastinal localization. Although more invasive than percutaneous procedures, surgical approaches, including anterior mediastinotomy, mediastinoscopy, and videothoracoscopy, certainly represent the most effective diagnostic options for patients with mediastinal lymphoma. Anterior mediastinotomy is the most commonly used procedure for lesions presenting in a retrosternal location. Mediastinoscopy is the procedure of choice when the tumor is present in the paratracheal or subcarinal region. Germ cell tumors, though exceedingly rare, represent 10"-20" of all anterior mediastinal masses. Mature teratomas account for about 60"-70" of all mediastinal germ cell tumors. Primary mediastinal seminomatous germ cell tumors represent almost half of all malignant primary mediastinal neoplasms, which are exceedingly rare. Nonseminomatous germ cell tumors account for more than 50" of all germ cell tumors.
