Treatments

Mediastinal Tumor Treatments

Treatment for mediastinal tumors depends on the type of growth and its location.

Lymphomas are typically treated with chemotherapy, followed by radiation therapy.

Thymomas usually require surgery, followed by radiation therapy or chemotherapy. Types of surgical treatments include:

• Open surgery: After making an incision in your chest, your surgeon will split the sternum (breastbone) to have enough access to remove your thymus gland.

• Video-assisted thymectomy: Your surgeon will make a small incision in your neck or side of your chest and use an endoscope (a thin, flexible tube with a light and camera on the end) to remove the thymus gland.
• Robot-assisted thymectomy: Your surgeon will make several small incisions in the side of your chest to remove the thymus gland with a mechanical device.