A benign mediastinal tumor is usually a mass smaller than 5cm. Usually a benign mediastinal tumor is a mass smaller than 5cm and grows with basically no obvious symptoms. Some patients may experience symptoms such as foreign body sensation in the chest, difficulty in breathing or difficulty in swallowing. Benign mediastinal tumors usually grow slowly and are small in size, so patients do not have obvious symptoms. A few patients may experience a foreign body sensation in the chest and mild pain when they take a deep breath. When benign mediastinal tumors compress the trachea, patients may experience dyspnea and shortness of breath. When compressing the esophagus, patients may also experience difficulty in swallowing and vague pain in the esophagus area. Compression of the peripheral venous vessels may slow down venous blood flow, resulting in edema of the face and upper extremities. If a patient develops a benign mediastinal tumor, he or she should seek prompt medical attention to avoid delays.