Neurogenic tumours of the posterior mediastinum and differential diagnosis considerations

The mediastinal compartment harbours vital organs and structures, including the heart, great vessels, major airways, and thymus. These structures are embedded in and associated with soft‐tissue elements consisting of adipose and fibro‐collagenous tissue in which soft‐tissue tumours may develop. A detailed inventory of soft‐tissue tumours that may be encountered in the mediastinum based on the WHO 2013 classification was published in 2015. In addition, several comprehensive reviews on mediastinal soft‐tissue pathology are available, including reviews focusing specifically on a single tumour type. This review will focus on primary neurogenic and spindle cell tumours of the somatic soft tissue of the posterior mediastinum and provide a discussion of the pertinent differential diagnoses. Schwannoma of the posterior mediastinum. This is the most common neural tumour of the mediastinum. The gross and microscopic aspect is similar in every respect to Schwannoma's of soft tissue elsewhere.