• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.29-39
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• 2004

Background : The diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to mediastinal tumors and cysts have changed over the past three decades. This report summarizes our forty-two years of experience with these tumors. Methods : This study retrospectively reviewed 479 patients with primary mediastinal tumors and cysts that were diagnosed and managed over the past 17-year period (1985~2002) and compared them to the report of the previous 25-year result (1960~1985) in Yonsei University College of Medicine, Severance Hospital in Seoul, Korea. Results : During the 17 years, there were 479 cases of pathologically proven mediastinal tumors and cysts. Thymoma (38.2%) was the most common mediastinal tumor and has increased noticeably during recent years. The gender ratio showed a male predominance (1.3:1) and the age distributions were even over all the age groups. The most common sites of the tumor and the proportion(28.6%) of malignant tumors were the same as that previously reported. A diagnosis of a tumor in asymptomatic patients was possible in 174 cases (36.3%), which was higher that reported previously. The diagnostic yield of a fine needle aspiration biopsy was 68.6% in the total tumors and 80.9% in the malignant tumors. A surgical resection was the most frequently chosen treatment modality and was performed in 405 cases (84.6%). The complete resection rate was 91.1%, which is higher than the previous result of 78.8%. Conclusion : These results showed that the prevalence of mediastinal tumors and cysts, particularly thymoma, increased. A fine needle aspiration biopsy was a valuable preoperative differential diagnostic method for malignant tumors. The surgical and complete resection rate increased remarkably possibly due to the better applicable chest CT scans, the more frequent health check-up provided by the regular health promotion program for all people as a health insurance policy, and the improved diagnostic techniques in the pathologic, radiological, and clinical fields.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.127-130
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• 2009

Primary leiomyosarcoma of the mediastinum is an extremely rare tumor that develops either in the mesenchymal cells of the visceral mediastinum or in the smooth muscle of the great vessels. In the literature, the most significant factor for determining survival is the ability to completely resect the tumor. But there is 30~64% recurrence rate and there is also a lack of data for the role of adjuvant therapy after complete resection. We report here on a case of recurred leiomyosarcoma of the mediastinum that was surgically removed via left thoracotomy 2 years previously and this was misdiagmosed as benign disease.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.8
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• pp.715-717
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• 2004

A 59-year old woman visited us for incidentally detected posterior mediastinal mass. Preoperative esophagography, esophagoscopy, esophageal ultrasound and computed tomography showed a esophageal submucosal tumor. With the diagonsis of esophageal leiomyoma, the patient underwent right side video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS): The mediastinal pleura and the esophageal muscle layers were longitudinally opened and the tumor was enucleated. Esophagography performed at 6th postoperative day revealed no esophageal mucosal bulging or leakage. The patient was discharged reveiving a soft diet on the 7th postoperative day.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.5 s.262
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• pp.423-425
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• 2006

A case report of lymphangiohemangioma of the mediastinum that was misdiagnosed as thymic origin mass on chest CT and MR angiography. Operative finding revealed vascular proliferation originated from innominate vein and the pathologic finding showed both lymphatic and vascular component which was diagnosed lymphangiohemangioma.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.286-291
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• 2004

Mediastinum is a very rare primary site of liposarcoma. In general, wide surgical excision with adequate resection margin is the treatment of choice for lipesarcoma. We experienced a case of liposarcoma in a 24 year-old male who complained of dyspnea and chest discomfort. Symptoms had been developed a month before admission, and the intensity had been gradually increased. He visited another general hospital, and there he received left closed thoracostomy because hemothorax was suspected. Afterwards, he was transferred to our hospital without a specific diagnosis, on review of outside chest computed tomography film, mass shadow was detected in the mediastinum. For the further evaluation, we checked the chest sonography and chest magnetic resonance imaging. MRI showed 10 cm sized mass contacted with pulmonary artery trunk and left main pulmonary artery. The radiologist strongly suggested sarcoma. On the 4th day after admission, we performed emergent exploratory left thoracotomy for hematoma evacuation because mediastinal shifting progressed and heart rate was increased. Biopsy confirmed that the evacuated materials were extraskeletal myxoid chondresarcoma, so we performed extrapleural left pneumonectomy including diaphragm and a part of the pericardium. The final pathologic diagnosis was myxoid/round cell liposarcoma. He was discharged without complication and systemic chemotherapy was scheduled to begin 2 month later. During chemotherapy, local recurrence and peritoneal metastasis developed, and he died 10 month after the surgical excision. We report this case with reviewal of literature.

• 대한두경부종양학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.265-265
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• 2004

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.66 no.6
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• pp.482-485
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• 2009

The middle mediastinum contains several important organs and pluripotent cells. It is difficult to make a definitive diagnosis in patients with middle mediastinal tumors due to a wide range of diseases. The likelihood of malignancy is influenced primarily by the following factors: patient age, size, tumor location, and the presence or absence of symptoms. We describe a case of a middle mediastinal tumor, which was suspected on chest x-ray; chest computed tomography revealed the eccentric mass of distal esophagus. This case emphasizes the diagnostic importance of the chest x-ray to the physicians. The possible differential diagnoses are reviewed.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.155-158
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• 2006

Intrathoracic goiters can be classified anterior and posterior mediastinal goiter with its locations. Most intrathoracic goiters are retrosternally situated in the anterior mediastinal compartment. Posterior mediastinal goiters are rare, but might present a difficult diagnostic and surgical problem. Although thyroid goiters are nearly always amenable to a cervical approach, posterior mediastinal goiters may require a combined cervicothoracic approach with sternotomy or thoracothomy. We herein describe a case of posterior mediastinal goiter which was excised only by cervical approach. The relevant literature is briefly reviewed.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.33-36
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• 2016

Cervical emphysema and Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is an uncommon disease. Cervical emphysema is mainly caused by trauma or head and neck surgery. Here, we report a case of cervical emphysema and spontaneous pneumomediastinum in a 15-year-old man. This case emphasizes that cervical swelling patients with negative inflammation findings should be scrutinized for cervical emphysema and spontaneous pneumomediastinum.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.537-539
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• 2009

A 47-year old woman was admitted to our hospital for removal of a known mass that was located on the suprasternal notch; specifically, the mass was located on the supero-anterior mediastinuum. The mass was removed by a cervical incision and the histopathologic diagnosis of the resected specimen was hererotopic thyroid tissue with nodular hyperplasia. Mediastinal hererotopic thyroid tissue is a rare malady, so we report here diastinal hererotopic thyroid tissue and we review the relevant medical literature.