• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.11
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• pp.807-811
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• 2002

Due to its less invasive nature and superior visual field, video-assisted thoracescopic excision of mediastinal mass is thought to be comparable to open thoracotomy. Material and Method : From January 1995 to August 2001, the medical records of 38 patients who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic excision of mediastinal mass was retrospectively analyzed. The outcome of these patients were compared with 5 patients who converted to thoracotomy Result: Male to female ratio was 13(34.2%) : 25(65.8%), and mean age was 39.2$\pm$35.4 years. Regarding the pathology, there were 8 neurilemmomas(21.1%), 6 thymic cysts (15.8%), 5 teratomas(13.2%), 5 ganglioneuromas(13.2%), 4 bronchogenic cysts(10.5%), 3 pericardial cysts(7.9%), 3 thymomas(7.9%), and 2 lymphangiomas(5.3%). The mean operation time was 110.6$\pm$7.0 minutes, mean postoperative tube stay was 4.2$\pm$0.4 days, mean postoperative hospital stay was 5.2$\pm$0.4 days, and mean number of injection of analgesics was 1.9$\pm$0.4 times. Although the mean values for the above indices were less than those of the thoracotomy conversion cases, they were statistically insignificant. Postoperative complications of videoassisted thoracoscopic excision included chylothorax, prolonged air leakage, and unilateral phrenic nerve palsy, all of which recovered before patient discharge. There was, however, permanent unilateral ptosis in one patient. Conclusion : As video-assisted thoracoscopic excision of mediastinal mass is safe, less painful, conducive to earlier recovery and cosmetically more appealing, a more active application of this technique is recommeded.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.7
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• pp.763-768
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• 1996

This report is an analysis of 43 cases of primary mediastinal tumors and cysts which were treated in the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Tae Jeon Eul li General Hospital from January, 1986 to April, 1995. There were 19 males and 24 females, and their ages ranged from 4 years to 68 years, with mean age of 31.3 years. The most common symptoms were dyspnea 48.8%, chest disconyort 39.5%, cough )4.9%, and chest pain 23.3%, and the most frequently encountered location of tumor was anterior mediastinum followed by posterior, and middle mediastinum. From the pathologic viewpoint, teratoma was the most frequent type followed by neurogenic tumors, cysts, thymoma, and Iymphoma. The most useful diagnostic method was plain X-ray examination of the chest, and final diagnosis could usually be made only after an operation. All of benign tumors were completely removed and malignant tumors were treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy after operation There were 7 (16.3 %) cases of postoperative complications, and there was no postoperative mortality.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.7
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• pp.708-712
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• 1997

We report on nine years experience of surgical treatment of mediastinal tumors in 47 patients. Their ages ranged from 5 o 67 years with an average of 36.4 years and the sex ratio of male and female was 1:1.5. The most frequent symptom was chest pain(27.7%), followed by ptosis(14.9%), general weatuless(12.8%) and eight patients(17.0%) were asymptomatic. The most prevalent location of the tumor was anterosuperior mediastinum(63.8%). Pathologically, thymoma(32.9%) was the most common tumor, followed by cyst(21.3%), neurogenic tumor(17.0%), germ cell tumor(12.8%), and mesenchymal tumor(6.4%). Complete removal was achieved in 41 cases of all benign tumors and 3 cases of malignant tumors. All the malignant tumor patients were treated with chemotherapy, radiotherapy or both after surgery. Postoperative complications developed in 4 cases and there was no operative death.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.67-71
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• 1997

Though thymoma is considered benign In a histopathologic specimen, its unusual behavior makes it important for surgeons to manage this neoplasm as cancerous lesion. Hence we clinically analysed the surgical cases of thymoma in our hospital, And we suggest the risk factors for its prognosis From January 1987 to December 1994, we experienced 41 surgical cases of thymoma, excluding thymic carcinoma and cysts. There were 21 male and 20 female; age ranged from 16 to 64 years. Among them, myasthenia gratis was present in 22 patients(53.7%). Surgical treatment consisted of complete resection in 31 patients, partial resection In 7 patients, and biopsy only in 3 patients. According to Masaoka's classification, there were 27 patients in milage 1, 4 patients in stage II, and 10 patients In stage III. Histopathology was of epithelial type in 14 patients, Iymphocytic type in 11, and mixed type in 19. Eleven patients had adjuvant radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or b th and there was no surgical mortality. Postoperative follow-up ranged from 1 to 88 months (mean )6 months) and three patients died and 5 patients suffered recurrences during the follow-up period. Postoperative risk factors were advanced Masaoka stage, invasiveness, and surgical method.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.83 no.1
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• pp.212-217
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• 2022

An epidermoid cyst is a benign tumor found anywhere in the body. However, the occurrence of epidermoid cysts in the thymus is extremely rare, with only six cases reported worldwide. The correct diagnosis of thymic epidermoid cysts is often difficult due to the unusual location and nonspecific imaging findings. Herein, we present a case of a thymic epidermoid cyst in a 37-year-old female with clinical information and chest CT findings. Further, we have reviewed previous literature reports describing imaging findings of thymic epidermoid cysts.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.575-583
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• 1993

Background: Mediastinal masses are not uncommon, and an overall incidence of one case per 100,000 population per year in individuals of all ages and with no difference in sex incidence may be a reasonable estimation. At least half of all mediastinal masses are asymptomatic and this proportion has increased in recent decades with wider use of screening chest roentgenography. Symptoms in patients with mediastinal mass lesions are usually due to compression or invasion of nearby intrathoracic structures. Most mediastinal mass lesions have characteristic predilectional locations. The basic focus of diagnostic evaluation is an orderly preparation for obtaining a tissue diagnosis but even lesions discovered to be benign must generally be removed. Seldom is this status known for certain preoperatively. In additaion, benign tumors may continue to enlarge, thus compromising vital organs; they may rupture, hemorrhage, become infected or have the possibility of various malignant degeneration. Therefore, all mediastinal masses must be surgically removed whether they are malignant or benign. Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 344 cases previously confirmed as mediastinal tumors or cysts from January, 1960 to August, 1992 and investigated the clinical findings. Results: Neurogenic tumors were the most common(24.7%) and thymomas were distinctively increased recently. Overall ratio between males and females was 1.1:1 and age distribution was relatively even among all age groups. Predilectional sites were posterior for neurogenic tumors, and anterior for teratodermoid tumors, thymomas and lymphomas. Dyspnea was the most common symptom in the patients of the mediastinal tumors and asymptomatic patients were 19.5%, Benign mediastinal mass lesions were 66.0% and malignant, 34.0%, Complete or partial resection was done in 42.4%. Conclusion: We could find the increasing incidence and the tendency of aggressive resection as possible in the mediastinal tumors. We expect the discovery of more mediastinal tumors with wider use of regular check-up and development of diagnostic methods.

• 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.30 no.4
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• pp.408-412
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• 1997

We have experienced 27 cases of primary medistinal tumors and cyst from April, 1986 to April 1996. At Masan Samsung General Hospital. The results of the anslysed were as follows 1. Of 27 medistinal tumors and c,pests, 9 patients were male and 18 patients were female(m : f= 1 : 2) 2. The most common chief complaint was chest discomfort or pain(8 cases 30 %) and 17 patients(63%) were asymptomatic. 3. The most common primary medistinal tumor was Neurogenic tumor in 9 cases(33 %) followed by Thymoma in 7 cases(26 %), teratoma in 6 cases(22 %) 4. The incidence of malignancy of all case was 3 cases(11 %), all cases were symptomatic and the most common malignancy was malig. thymoma(3 cases,43 %) 5. The anterior mediastinum was the most common tumor location with 15 cases(56 %) followed by posterior 11(41 %) and middle mediastinum 1(4 %). Anterior mediastinum tumors were predominantly thymomas and teratoma and posterior mediastinal tumors were neurogenic tumors 6. Complete removal of tumor was achieved in 26 cases(96 %) and open biopsy was done on 1 case 7. Postoperative complications were continued lumbar shunt drainage in 1 case and wound infection in 1 case 8. There was no case of postoperative mortality and good clinical course in surgically completely rejected cases

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.632-638
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• 1996

A retrospective analysis of primary mediastinal tumors and cysts was performed on 42 patients who underwent surgical resection at our institution from january, 1985 to December, 1995. The patients consisted of 27 males and 15 females. The mean age was 40 years with a range of 10 month to 76 years. The patients were composed of thymlc tumor 12 cases (28.6 %), germ cell tumor 8 cases (19.0 %), primary cyst 7 cases (16.7 %), neurogenic tumor 6 cases (14.3 %) and other miscellanious tumor 9 cases. Overall, 3) (78.6 %) of the tumors were histologically benign, and 9 (21.4 %) were malig- nant. The noted clinical manifestations were respiratory symptoms such as chest pain, dyspnea and coughing. All of the patients with malignancy and 55 oyo of the patients with benign tumor were symptomatic on presentation. All of the patients were operated for tis ue diagnosis and curative resection. All the benign tumors ex- cept two cases of sarcoidosis were performed adequate curative resection. A few patients with malignant unresectable tumors were treated with chemotherapy or radiotherapy There were 7 (18 %) postoperative complications without mortality. In conclusion, Mediastinal tumors have long fascinated the thoracic surgeon because of their variety and unpredictability of diagnosis prior to exploration. We consider that active surgery and various combined modality can be accomplished with satisfactory result.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.55-60
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• 1997

We reviewed 40 cases of primary mediastinal tumors which were operated on at Seoul Paik Hospital from September, 1987 to December, 1995. Of these, 18 were male and 22 were female. The patient ranged in age from 4 years to 68 years with a mean age of 34.1 years. The most common symptoms included chest pain(12.5%), cough(12.5%), dyspnea(7.5%). and palpable neck mass(7.5%), and symptoms were absent at the time of diagnosis in 37.5% of cases. Chest roentgenography and computed tomography(CT) were performed in all patients, and magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) in 5 patients, and transthoracic needle aspiration (TTNA) performed In 22 patients. The sensitivity of TTNA was 72.7%(16 of 22 patients). The lesion was located 60% in the anterosuperior mediastinum, 35% in the posterior mediastinum, and 5% in the middle mediastinum. The primary tumors included thymic neoplasms(11 cases), germ cell tumors(7 cases), neurogenic tumors(10 cases) and a miscellaneous group. The malignant tumors(12.5%) were invasive thymoma(3 cases), spindle cell sarcoma(1 case), and non-Hodgkin's Iymphoma(1 case). A complete excision was done in all 35 benign tumors and 3 malignant tumors. There was no operative mortality, and postoperative complications occurred in 3 cases.