Chest Tumors

Inside your chest, are the lungs, the heart and other important body parts. They are inside the chest cavity, surrounded by the chest wall. As with any area of the body, tumors can develop in the chest wall. Tumors can be benign, which means non-cancerous. Examples include osteochondroma and fibrous dysplasia. (Read about "Bone Tumors - Benign") Or they can be malignant, which means cancerous. (Read about "Cancer: What It Is") Examples of malignant chest tumors include osteosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma (Read about "Bone Cancer") and chondrosarcomas. Cancerous tumors can spread to other body parts, a process called metastasis. Sometimes tumors in the chest wall started some place else and have spread to the chest. These are called secondary tumors. But even non-cancerous tumors in the chest can cause problems, for example, if they are growing and pressing on vital organs.

Symptoms of a possible tumor in the chest are can include:

• pain
• swelling
• difficulty moving
• difficulty breathing
• a lump or mass that you can feel

Any of these symptoms can also indicate other problems such as heart disease or respiratory issues (Read about "Coronary Heart Disease" "Respiratory System") so it is important to see your doctor if you are experiencing any unusual symptoms in this area.

Tumors that originate in the chest are called primary tumors. In some people, there is a hereditary tendency to develop such tumors. (Read about "Genetics" "Family Health History")

If your doctor suspects a tumor in the chest area, there are different diagnostic tools that can be used. These include x-ray, CT scan and MRI (Read about "X-rays" "CT Scan - Computerized Tomography" "MRI - Magnetic Resonance Imaging") Your doctor may also order a biopsy (Read about "Biopsy") in which a sample of tissue from the suspected tumor is extracted and than analyzed.

If a tumor is present, treatment options will depend on the type of tumor that it is. For a malignant tumor, options include chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. (Read about "Radiation Therapy" "Cancer Treatments") For benign tumors that are not causing any problems, no treatment may be necessary. If a benign tumor is interfering with movement or function, surgical removal may be necessary. Depending on the extent of the surgery, reconstructive surgery may also be needed to improve appearance. (Read about "Plastic Surgery")

Related Information:

    Cancer and Children