Abstract
A clinical study was made 10 cases of cystic mediastinal tumor undergone thoracoscopic surgery at the hospital from August 1994 to March 1999. These patient's ages ranged from 16 to 70 years old with a mean of 43.8. There were five men and five women. The maximum diameters of tumors ranged from 2 to 9cm, with a mean of 5.3cm. These tumors were diagnosed as thymic cyst in three cases, pericardial cyst in three cases, bronchial cyst in two cases, esophageal cyst in one case, and cystic teratoma in one case. Intraoperative rupture of the cyst occurred in two cases of bronchial cyst and one case of cystic teratoma, a total of three cases. Postoperative complications included pneumonia and surgical wound infection in each one case which also developed rupture of the cyst. Duration of indwelling of a drain after the operation ranged from one to 7 days, with a mean of 2.6 days. The 7-day indwelling was needed for a plenty of discharge from the drain in one case of cystic rupture. Postoperative hospital stay came to 6-14 days, with a mean of 9.8 days.
Cystic mediastinal tumor is a good indication for thoracoscopic surgery. But, if bronchial cyst, esophageal cyst or cystic teratoma is suspected, it would be safe at present to use a minor thoracotomy concomitantly according to conditions, by entertaining a possibility of adhesion to the adjacent tissues and risk of rupture of the cyst.
