Mediastinal adenopathy. X-ray of the chest of a patient with bilateral tracheal and mediastinal adenopathy. Adenopathy is a general term for diseases where glandular tissue, such as the lymph glands, become enlarged. In this case tissue in the mediastinum (white grainy area), the part of the chest cavity between the lungs, is affected. The mediastinum contains the trachea (wind pipe, running down centre), oesophagus, thymus gland and heart (lower centre right). Symptoms include a cough and wheezing. Mediastinal adenopathy is usually a sign of a serious underlying illness, most often a tumour or cyst. Treatment is with corticosteroid drugs to reduce inflammation.