Surgical treatment for mediastinal cysts

BACKGROUND: Since most of mediastinal cysts are benign tumors, video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) is optimal surgical procedure in recent years. It is important to select an appropriate approach accordance with the various locations of the cysts. METHODS: This is a retrospective review between 2005 and 2011 included 42 cases who had been undergone surgery for mediastinal cysts at the department. RESULTS: There were 19 males and 23 females, mean-age 58.9±11.8 year. The cysts in superior portion of the mediastinum, anterior and middle mediastinum were 2, 31, and 9 patients, respectively. Operative procedures included 3 or 4 ports in 11, mini-thoracotomy and 2 or 3 ports in 28, cervical incision and mini-thoracotomy and 2 ports in 1, median sternotomy in 2. Mean operative time was 128.8±62.8 minutes. The mean postoperative stay was 5.6±2.1 days. There was hardly a perioperative complication, excepting only 1 case of intraoperative hemorrhage. CONCLUSION: VATS allows various surgical approach to each location of mediastinal cysts, and less invasive procedure.