Surgical Resection of a Massive Primary Mediastinal Liposarcoma Using Clamshell Incision Combined with Lower Median Sternotomy: Report of a Case

Abstract

We experienced a case of massive mediastinal liposarcoma expanding to the bilateral pleural cavities. Preoperative positron emission tomography-computed tomography scan showed that the uptake of ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) into the tumor was slight for its size. Clamshell incision together with lower median sternotomy provided the excellent visualization and the complete resection of the tumor. The surgical resection should be performed even for a massive liposarcoma, especially if the uptake of F-FDG into the tumor is low, as complete surgical resection is the only definitive treatment for liposarcoma.