[Intrathoracic lipoma resected by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery; report of two cases]

We experienced 2 cases of intrathoracic lipoma arising from the chest wall and posterior mediastinum. The 1st case was a 65-year-old female, and another case was a 60-year-old male. The 1st case had a 15 cm tumor at posterior mediastinum, and another case had rapidly growing 6 cm tumor at chest wall. Both tumors were surgically removed completely by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), and the diagnosis of lipoma was established pathologically. VATS resection was an useful procedure for intrathoracic lipoma. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were useful for evaluation of local extent of tumor.