Primary mediastinal cysts: clinical evaluation and surgical results of 32 cases

The purpose of this retrospective study was to analyze our experience with mediastinal cysts, emphasizing the clinical presentations and results of surgery.Thirty-two patients with mediastinal cysts underwent surgery from January 2000 through June 2005. The records of these patients were reviewed for age at presentation, sex, signs and symptoms at presentation, results of the imaging techniques, types of mediastinal cysts, location and size of cysts, types of surgical procedure, length of hospital stay, early postoperative complications, death, and other follow-up information.The 32 mediastinal cysts comprised 12 bronchogenic, 9 pericardial, 7 thymic, and 2 enteric cysts, together with 2 cystic teratomas. Overall, 14 of the 32 patients with mediastinal cysts were asymptomatic. The surgical approach was thoracotomy in 30 patients and median sternotomy in 2 patients. The mean length of hospital stay was 7.7 ± 2.6 days. All patients were free from recurrence during the mean follow-up period of 4.4 ± 3.3 years.Surgery for mediastinal cysts is associated with low morbidity and mortality rates and a very low recurrence rate. It offers a definitive diagnosis and cure, avoiding the higher morbidity and mortality risks associated with conservative observation.