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Updated: Sep 27, 2026
Proton Therapy Delivery and Its Clinical Application in Select Solid Tumor Malignancies
Published on: February 6, 2019
[Mediastinal tumors in children]
Krystyna Sawicz-Birkowska1, Jerzy Czernik, Rafał Chrzan
1Katedra i Klinika Chirurgii Pediatrycznej AM we Wrocławiu.
Insights
Mediastinal tumors in children are rare, with neurogenic tumors being the most common. Combined treatments improved outcomes for neurogenic cases, showing no significant changes in tumor prevalence over 30 years.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Thoracic Surgery
- Diagnostic Imaging
Context:
- Mediastinal tumors are uncommon in pediatric populations.
- A 30-year retrospective study analyzed 125 pediatric cases.
- Tumor locations included anterior, medial, and posterior mediastinum.
Purpose:
- To evaluate clinical features, diagnostic methods, and surgical management of pediatric mediastinal tumors.
- To assess treatment outcomes, particularly for neurogenic tumors.
- To compare tumor prevalence over two distinct 30-year periods.
Summary:
- Neurogenic tumors (35%) were most frequent, followed by lymphatic origin tumors.
- Solid tumors constituted 78% of cases, with 68% occurring in children under 5.
- Complete excision was achieved in 66% of patients; open biopsy in 26%.
- Combined therapy (radiotherapy, chemotherapy, surgery) yielded a 71% 3-year complete remission rate for neurogenic tumors.
Impact:
- Provides insights into the epidemiology and management of pediatric mediastinal tumors.
- Highlights the efficacy of multimodal treatment for neurogenic mediastinal tumors.
- Establishes a baseline for future research on pediatric mediastinal neoplasms.
Abstract:
Mediastinal tumours are not very common among various tumours in children. The aim of our study was to evaluate the clinical features, diagnostic approaches and surgical management in 125 patients treated in our Department for 30 years. There were 39 lesions in the anterior, 21 in the medial and 49 in the posterior mediastinum. Solid tumours were diagnosed in 78% of patients. The range of age was between 4 days and 18 years of life. Patients below 5 years of life accounted for 68%. The most common were neurogenic tumours--35%, less frequently tumours of lymphatic origin were seen. Complete excision was possible in 66% of patients, in 26% open biopsy examinations were performed. Enlarged thymus was under control in our out-patient clinic. Combined treatment (radio-, chemotherapy and surgical treatment) was introduced to deal with neurogenic tumours in children. Complete remission lasting 3 years was achieved in 71% of patients in this group. Comparing two periods of time (1970-85 v 1986-2000) no significant differences were found in the prevalence of any kind of mediastinal tumours.