Surgically excised primary mediastinal tumors and cysts: a report of 43 cases

Forty-three primary mediastinal tumors or cysts were surgically treated in 41 patients during a 10-year period. These tumors consisted of 20 thymic tumors, 10 neurogenic tumors, 5 teratomas, 3 lymphoid tumors, 2 congenital cysts, 2 mediastinal thyroid tumors, and 1 chondroma. There were 16 male and 25 female patients. The mean age was 44 years with a range of 6 to 79 years. Sixteen patients (39%) were symptomatic. There were 20 thymic tumors including 13 thymomas, 5 thymic cysts, and 2 hyperplasia with myastenia. Additional radiation therapy was recommended for all but stage I thymomas. Only 1 of the 10 neurogenic tumors was malignant. Eight teratomas were all cystic and matured. Early operative intervention is mandatory in these cases.