COMBINED MICRONEUROSURGICAL AND THORACOSCOPIC REMOVAL OF NEUROGENIC DUMBBELL TUMORS

The resection of posterior mediastinal dumbbell tumors has until now r equired laminectomy and some form of open access to the thoracic cavit y. Over a 1-year period, a novel surgical approach combining posterior microneurosurgical and anterior video-assisted thoracoscopy technique s was used in 4 patients. In 3 patients, the tumor was removed success fully with minimal postoperative discomfort and rapid recovery. In the fourth patient, limited thoracotomy became necessary to control bleed ing. This new approach, which combines modem-day neurosurgical and gen eral thoracic surgical techniques, appears safe and could become the p referred method for removing most benign posterior mediastinal dumbbel l tumors.