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The mediastinum is a hollow space within the thoracic cavity that may give rise to a wide spectrum of tumoral conditions from the benign to the intermediate to the highly malignant neoplasms. In addition, other inflammatory and infectious conditions may also arise in this space, which renders the practice of mediastinal pathology, almost a general surgical pathology practice. However, there are numerous mediastinal conditions that are important not only for diagnosis but also for treatment and clinical outcome. Due to the unusual location and because of the complexity of the tumors occurring in the mediastinum, there are only a few experts in this particular anatomic area. In fact, there are no more than 3-4 individuals worldwide with enough experience to properly diagnose, classify, and make treatment suggestions when these tumors arise in the mediastinum. More recent developments in tumor diagnosis and classification havecreated a vacuum in the general pathologist who often is confronted with this pathology and becomes uneasy about the specifics. For instance, recent developments in tumor pathology have led to the classification and staging of mediastinal tumors in more innovative ways that are in need of proper highlighting. Needless to say, even though there are a few publications on mediastinal pathology, the books are either obsolete or incomplete, in addition of providing superficial knowledge. Unfortunately and with all due respect to the authors of those publications, neither of those books is written by experts in the area. Rather the books were written out of the lack of information in mediastinal pathology. Even the World Health Organization (WHO) publication, which is truly more on lung and pleural neoplasms, has inserted in its contents a portion of mediastinal tumors, such portion not only is superficial and incomplete but also at least highly controversial ifnot flat out incorrect.. This text's goal is to present comprehensive and up to date information of the diverse pathology that can be encountered in the mediastinal compartment. The book will be divided in 11 different chapters based on the lineage of the diverse tumors that occur in the mediastinum, i.e. epithelial, neuroendocrine, lymphoid, etc (see table of contents). In addition, two separate chapters will be included -one on the radiological aspects and the others on the surgical approach to the different mediastinal tumors., bringing a total of 13 chapters. In the pathology section, the book will include current staging and classification systems of the different tumors. In addition, it will address the most current criteria for diagnosis and the differential diagnosis. Although the emphasis of the book is on diagnostic surgical pathology, every chapter will include the use of immunohistochemical techniques, electron microscopy,and molecular biology when necessary. The book will be extensively illustrated so that the reader will benefit of the different histomorphology of mediastinal tumors. Because of the nature of this specific anatomic area and the need to develop a standard text, Mediastinal Pathology should be of high interest to general surgical pathologists, thoracic pathologists in particular as well as thoracic surgeons, oncologists, and radiologists. Needless to say, this book will be of interest to pathology residents and fellows as well as to those seeking more in depth knowledge of thoracic – mediastinal pathology.

Tumors of the mediastinum are usually diagnosed in young patients, but they can develop at any age and form any tissue that exists in or passes through the chest cavity. The diagnosis and the accurate assessment of the mediastinum masses represents a challenge, given their clinical variability from asymptomatic to producing symptoms of cough, chest pain, and dyspnea. Mediastinal tumors encompass a wide range of various neoplasms. The localization of mediastinal masses is critical in the diagnosis: the anterior mediastinal masses are generally thymomas, teratomas, substernal thyroid/parathyroid tissue, or lymphomas; the middle mediastinum massess are typically pericardial and bronchogenic cysts; the posterior mediastinum masses are often neurogenic tumors and esophageal cysts. The wide variety of different entities demonstrates a heterogeneous spectrum of clinical and pathologic features, suggesting that a uniform “standard” management of these patients is not appropriate. In this context, the proposed book will provide a comprehensive review of the mediastinal tumors according to different sites of the diseases, including the masses of anterior, middle and posterior mediastinum. The handling of these tumors requires a multidisciplinary approach due to the complex anatomy of the mediastinum as well as the different clinical, radiographic, and prognostic features. This book has risen from the desire to provide to the specialists in the field an easy, updated and practical guidelines title to facilitate the clinical practice of mediastinic masses. This book will be a comprehensive guide to clinical best practices developed through the opinions of experts in the field.