Abstract
We often hesitate over which approach to choose in surgical treatment for a neurogenic tumor developing in the thoracic apex. For a correct handling and a satisfactory view, a large incision is often necessary. We report a case of thoracoscopic surgery for a schwannoma that developed in the thoracic apex. A 25-year-old man was referred to our hospital due to an abnormal shadow found on a chest radiograph. Chest CT and MRI showed that the tumor was located in the superior mediastinum, extending up to the thoracic inlet. The preoperative diagnosis was neurogenic tumor of the right thoracic apex. The thoracoscopic appearance showed that the tumor originated from the thoracic sympathetic nerve. Complete thoracoscopic resection was successfully performed. The histological diagnosis was schwannoma. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged from our hospital on the fourth postoperative day. The thoracoscopic surgery could facilitate a satisfactory view and safe operation for the neurogenic tumor of the thoracic apex.
