MEDIASTINAL TUMOR AND APPLICATION OF THORACOSCOPIC SURGERY

Thoracoscopic resection of a mediastinal tumor or cyst was done in thr ee patients: two with neurogenic tumors and one with a bronchogenic cy st. The tumors and cyst showed evidence of a discrete plane on compute d tomography of the chest. The mean operation time and estimated blood loss were 156 min and 45 g, respectively. For all three patients, the chest drain was removed within 48 h after operation, and there were n o complications related to thoracoscopic surgery. The advantages of th is approach are less pain, early return to normal activity, and an acc eptable cosmetic appearance. Based on our experience, thoracoscopic su rgery is considered the treatment of choice for certain mediastinal tu mors or cyst.