The aim of this issue is to provide the thoracic surgeon with information about the staging and treatment of cancer to the mediastinal lymph nodes. The issue includes articles on the anatomy and physiology of the lymph nodes, imaging of the lymph nodes, and various techniques for diagnosing and dissecting the lymph nodes, including video-assisted mediastinoscopic lymphadenectomy and transcervical extended mediastinal lymphadenectomy.

Lead by Guest Editor Federico Venuta, this issue on Thymoma is?a collaborative effort of?the?European Society of Thoracic Surgeons' Thymic Working Group.? This panel of experts from around the world explores 14 different topics related to thymoma and thymic carcinoma, such as the?prediction of Thymoma histology and stage by radiographic criteria, the?management of stage I and II Thymoma, minimally invasive and robotic-assisted Thymus resection, chemotherapy for Thymic tumors, published guidelines for the?management of Thymoma, and more.? ?

Utility of PET in the mediastinum; Diagnostic strategies for mediastinal tumors and masses; Infections of the mediastinum; Genetic markers of mediastinal diseases; Mediastinal tumors and cysts in the pediatric population; Multimodality treatment of germ cell tumors of the mediastinum; Surgical approaches to the thymus in patients with MG; Multimodality treatment of thymoma; Vascular lesions of the mediastinum; Combined cervico - thoracic approaches for complex mediastinal masses; Intraoperative strategy in patients with extended involvement of mediastinal structures; The role of surgical resection for locally recurring mediastinal tumors; Modern Radiotherapy for Mediastinal Disease; Surgery of the mediastinum -historical notes.