Thoracoscopic Resection of a Mediastinal Enteric Cyst Assisted with Artificial Pneumothorax in the Prone Position

: Mediastinal enteric cysts are very rare among in adults and usually asymptomatic. A 54-year-old male was referred to our hospital due to an abnormal shadow incidentally found on a chest X-ray at health check. Chest computed tomography scan revealed a cystic mass in the posterior and inferior mediastinum surrounded by diaphragm, inferior vena cava, and esophagus. Based on many reports of thoracoscopic esophagectomy in the prone position in recent years, we chose thoracoscopic resection of the mediastinal tumor in the prone position with artificial pneumothorax. The prone position with artificial pneumothorax provided much better exposure of the operating field and the surgery was performed successfully.