Mediastinal Cyst Resected with Thoracotomy or Thoracoscopy

Objective:To compare the standard and thoracoscopic operations for mediastinal cystswe reviewed patients with mediastinal cysts who had undergone surgery from 1991 through 1998. Methods:Twenty-four patients with mediastinal cysts were treated:13 men and 11 women ranging in age from 20 to 74 years.Ten patients had thymic cysts(1 had invasive thymoma4 had pericardial cysts3 had bronchogenic cystsand 3 had esophageal cysts.From 1991 through 1994 10 patients were treatedof whom 9 had thoracotomy or sternotomy and 1 required conversion of a thoracoscopic procedure to open thoracotomy.From 1995 through 199814 patients were treat‑ ed;thoracoscopic resection was attempted in 13 patients and was completed in 12. Results:The amount of bleeding during the operationduration of operationand the length of postoperative hospitalization were significantly less in patients undergoing thoracoscopic surgery than in patients undergoing thoracotomy or sternotomy.Ten of 24 patients had preoperative symptoms that resolved with surgery. Conclusions:Our results suggest that thoracoscopic resection is effective for mediastinal cyst. This operative method is less invasiveprovides symptomatic reliefand establishes a pathologic diagnosis. (Jikeikai Med J 2002;49:121-5