We present two cases of intrathoracic meningocele associated with von Recklinghausen's disease. Both cases had typical multiple skin lesion of this disease.
CASE 1. A 57-year-old female visited our hospital with nausea in April 1994. Although chest X-ray film revealed a tumor in the left mediastinum, she suffered no respiratory disturbance. She was admitted to our hospital with dyspnea on February 1998. Chest X-ray film revealed a massive left pleural effusion, and a tumor approximately 10cm in diameter appeared after drainage. CT-myelography and MRI showed intrathoracic meningocele. The tumor was resected completely by thoracotomy and laminectomy.
CASE 2. A 32-year-old female visited our hospital with scoliosis 13 years ago. She had been asymptomatic, but a follow-up radiograph revealed enlargement of the tumor from 3cm to 6cm in diameter over 6 years. CT scan and MRI showed the tumor communicating with the dural sac. The tumor was resected by thoracoscopic surgery.
Their operative course was uneventful. The thoracoscopic resection was minimally invasive. We consider thoracoscopic surgery useful, but indication should be determined according to the size and position of the tumor.
