Evaluation of Benign Masses in Thorax

The area enclosed between the abdomen inferiorly and the root of the neck superiorly is the thorax. It comprises the thoracic wall, its superficial structures (breast, muscles, and skin), and the thoracic cavity. A variety of tumors arise from the thorax—both mediastinal and non-mediastinal, including benign and malignant. Some of the malignant thoracic lesions are lung cancers (small cell and non-small cell type), esophageal cancers, thymic cancer, mesothelioma, and tracheal malignancies. The malignancies are explained in detail in other chapters. This chapter explains the evaluation of benign masses in the thorax.