Pathologies of the Mediastinum: A Review of Current Concepts and Surgical Management Supported by a Single-Institution Experience

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Introduction: Mediastinal pathologies comprise a heterogeneous group of congenital, neoplastic, infectious, inflammatory, traumatic, and iatrogenic conditions affecting one of the most anatomically complex regions of the thorax. Due to the proximity of vital structures, including the heart, great vessels, trachea, and esophagus, their diagnosis and management remain particularly challenging. Recent advances in computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography, histopathological classification systems, minimally invasive biopsy techniques, and thoracoscopic surgery have significantly improved the management and prognosis of mediastinal diseases. This review summarizes contemporary concepts regarding mediastinal pathology, emphasizing anatomical classification, imaging characteristics, histopathological diagnosis, and surgical management. Major disease entities include thymic epithelial tumors, mediastinal neurogenic tumors, mesenchymal lesions, and rare mediastinal conditions. The review integrates recent international literature and current guidelines together with a single-center surgical experience reported in an institutional series, including thymoma associated with myasthenia gravis, thymic carcinoma, neurogenic tumors, mesenchymal tumors, hydatid disease, vascular trauma, and rare postoperative complications. Conclusion: Mediastinal diseases encompass a broad and heterogeneous spectrum of pathological entities requiring individualized diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Advances in imaging, histopathology, minimally invasive biopsy techniques, and thoracic surgery have significantly improved patient outcomes