• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.28 no.10
• /
• pp.917-923
• /
• 1995

For the purpose of analysis of clinical and pathological characteristics in mediastinal tumors and cysts, 82 patients with mediastinal tumors and cysts treated in the department of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery in Chosun University Hospital during the period from January 1978 to December 1994 were reviewed. There were 49 male and 33 female patients in the study. Age ranges from 10 months to 84 years, with the mean 37.2 years. Frequently encountered symptoms and signs were dyspnea[40.2% , abnormal breathing sound[37.8% , chest pain[35.7% , cough[26.8% , and 18.2% of patients were asymptomatic. The most frequent tumor was anterosuperior mediastinum [59.8% followed by middle[24.4% and posterior mediastinum[15.8% . The malignant tumors were found in 35 cases[42.7% . Successful removal of the mass was possible in all the benign mediastinal masses[57.3% . But in the malignant cases, the surgical removal was possible in 18 cases and other inoperable cases were treated by radiation and chemotherapy. The postoperative complications occurred in 9 cases. Usual complications were bleeding[4 cases , wound infection[3 cases , pneumothorax[1 case and vocal cord paralysis[1 case . In the pathologic viewpoint, teratodermoid tumors[22.0% were the most frequent tumor followed by thymomas[19.5 , benign cysts[15.8% , lymphomas[13.4% and neurogenic tumors[8.5% .

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.35 no.11
• /
• pp.807-811
• /
• 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
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.40-45
• /
• 1998

Recently, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for mediastinal lesions has been considered a new effective therapeutic method. From March, 1992 to April, 1997, 33 cases of video assisted thoracoscopic surgery for mediastinal lesions were performed. Gender distribution was 16 males and 17 females. Average age was 42 years old(ranged from 14 to 69). The locations of lesions were anterior mediastinum in 14 cases, middle mediastinum in 5 cases, posterior mediastinum in 11 cases, and superior mediastinum in 3 cases. These included 9 neurilemmomas, 5 benign cystic teratoma, 4 pericardial cysts, 2 ganglioneuroma, 2 thymus, 2 thymic cyst, 1 thymoma, 2 esophageal leiomyomas, 1 dermoid cyst, 1 lipoma, 1 malignant lymphoma, 1 bronchogenic cyst, 1 pericardial effusion, and 1 Boerhaave's disease with empyema. Working window was needed in 6 cases. We converted to open thoracotomy in 6 cases. Reasons of convertion to open thoracotomy were large sized mass(1), severe adhesion(3), and difficult location to approach(2). The average operation time was 116min($\pm$56 min). The average chest tube drainage time was 4.7days. The average hospital stay was 8.7 days. Operative complications were atelectasis(2), empyema with mediastinitis(1), recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy(1), and plenic nerve palsy(1). In conclusion, VATS for mediastinal lesions were performed with shorter operation time and hospital stay, and lesser complications and pain than those of conventional thoracotomy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.44 no.4
• /
• pp.279-284
• /
• 2011

Background: The aim of this study is to investigate the clinical characteristics and management of intrathoracic bronchogenic cysts. Materials and Methods: Twenty-four (n=24) patients with intrathoracic bronchogenic cysts were treated surgically between August 1990 and December 2009 at our institution. Patients were divided into two groups by bronchogenic cyst location: mediastinal or intrapulmonary. Symptoms at diagnosis, radiologic findings, locations, surgical methods, pathological findings, and surgical outcomes were investigated retrospectively from consecutive patient medical records. Results: There were 12 females (50.0%). The mean age was 26.8 (range, 5 to 64) years. The mean follow-up period was 27.3 (range, 1 to 121) months. There were 15 (62.5%) mediastinal and 9 (37.5%) intrapulmonary bronchogenic cysts. Symptoms occurred in 8 patients with mediastinal bronchogenic cysts (53.3%) and 5 patients with intrapulmonary bronchogenic cysts (55.6%) (p=1.000). On computed tomography (CT), 7 patients (46.7%) showed homogenous solid masses in mediastinal bronchogenic cysts and five (55.6%) patients exhibited heterogeneous cystic masses with air-fluid levels in intrapulmonary bronchogenic cystic masses. Open thoracotomy was performed in 17 (70.8%) patients, and video-assisted thoracic surgery was performed in 7 (29.2%) patients. On pathological findings, there were 16 (66.7%) complicated cysts, and in 13 symptomatic patients, 11 (84.6%) patients had complicated cysts. There was no operative death in this study. During the follow-up period, no recurrence was detected. Conclusion: Intrathoracic bronchogenic cysts have a wide variety of clinical characteristics and radiologic findings. Even though some patients do not experience symptoms and signs caused by bronchogenic cysts, serious symptoms and complications may develop with the passage of time.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.29 no.7
• /
• pp.789-791
• /
• 1996

Medstinoscopy has been used in the diagnosis for detection of mediastinal Iymph nodes invasion by bronchogenic carcinoma and metastatic cancer. A 19-year-old male complained of chest disconyortness and dysphagia. A chest roentgenogram showed. the right paratracheal mass. Computed topography findings were consistent with a diagnosis of bronchogenic cyst, and excision of cyst was accomplished via the mediastinoscopy thus avoiding thoracotomy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.46 no.2
• /
• pp.138-141
• /
• 2013

Pericardial cysts are reported by some authors, but epicardial cysts are extremely rare. We report one case of epicardial cyst that was detected incidentally and was removed successfully. Furthermore, unusually, pathological examinations confirmed that the cyst wall was looked like a vessel wall.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.141-145
• /
• 1990

Author made a clinical study of 48 cases of primary mediastinal tumors experienced in the dept. of the thoracic and cardiovascular surgery of Pusan National University Hospital during the 12 years period from march 1978 to march 1989. There were 34 males and 14 females. Their age distribution was from 4 months to 70 years, with the mean age of 34.4 years. 8.3 % of the patients were younger than 15 years old. There were teratoma 14 cases[29%], thymoma 11 cases[23%], neurogenic tumor 10 cases[21 %], lymphoma 6 cases[13 %], benign cyst 6 cases[13 %], and one case of fibrous histiocytoma in the histological distribution. The malignant tumors were 12 cases[25 %]. The common symptoms were chest pain and discomfort[35.4], coughing[18.8], general weakness and dyspnea. 16.7% of the patients were asymptomatic at admission. The successful removal was done in all cases of benign mediastinal tumors. In malignant cases, the surgical removal could be done in 5 cases. There was not postop. mortality. The frequent complications were atelectasis, infection, bleeding.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.31 no.10
• /
• pp.1017-1021
• /
• 1998

Mesothelial cysts have many other names, such as pericardial celomic cyst, pleura- diaphragmatic cyst, simple cyst of the mediastinum, springwater cyst, serosal cyst, etc. (Petereit 1972, Drash 1950). Most mesothelial cysts are believed to originate from malformations of the pericardium, but some, like the one in this case, are believed to result from a pleural malformation. (Ochsner 1966, Lambert 1940). Mesothelial cysts are extremely rare and can be confirmed histologically by special stains. A 64 year old woman was admitted due to a painless bulging mass in her right neck. The operation was performed with the initial diagnosis of cystic lymphangioma confirmed by computer tomography and total excision was possible. The diagnosis of mesothelial cyst of the mediastinum was confirmed by histologic examinations (stainings) and the patient was discharged from the hospital without any significant complications.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.39-42
• /
• 2007

Esophageal duplication cyst is very rare mediastinal tumor which is congenital lesion of the esophagus. Esophageal duplication cyst could be excised with video assisted thoracoscopic surgery(VATS) if it is relatively small, cystic lesion and not adhered severely to the surrounding tissues such as lung, trachea, bronchus, esophagus and pleura. We report a case of an esophageal duplication cyst which was located in the right thoracic cavity below carina and could be excised completely and repaired by interrupted suture with 3.0 black silk. The patient was discharged at 10 days after operation with good condition and has been in uneventful condition 2 months after operation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.51 no.1
• /
• pp.72-75
• /
• 2018

Pericardial cysts are rare benign anomalies generally discovered as incidental findings on radiographic images. Rarely, pericardial cysts cause symptoms and may lead to complications. A 56-year-old woman presented to the emergency department for mild chest pain. A cardiovascular and respiratory examination revealed no abnormalities, while a chest X-ray and subsequent thoracic computed tomography (CT) showed a pericardial cyst. The patient refused both percutaneous treatment and thoracic surgery. Three years later, a thoracic CT scan showed that the pericardial cyst had disappeared. Although the spontaneous resolution of these lesions is rare, this article highlights the possibility of conservative management in select cases.