The differential diagnosis of a mediastinal tumor often starts by determining its location in a lateral view of an imaging study.
Location
Designation
below the thoracic inlet and above the horizontal plane going from the juncture of the manubrium to the body of the sternum to the T4-T5 intervertebral space
superior
in front of the pericardium, below the superior region, behind the body of the sternum and the xyphoid process
anterior
within the pericardium and below the superior region
middle
behind the pericardium, below the superior region, and above the diaphragm
