Video-assisted thoracic surgery resection for pediatric mediastinal neurogenic tumors

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) resection of mediastinal neurogenic tumors is still controversial in children. The aim of this study was to review the cases of VATS resection of such tumors in children from 3 institutions located in different countries.

This retrospective study included 17 children treated between July 1995 and February 2011. Medical charts were reviewed for collection of data on age, sex, histologic type of tumor, clinical manifestations, age and weight at surgery, tumor size, duration of thoracic drainage, surgical complications, tumor recurrence, and mortality.

Thirteen (76.5%) males and 4 (23.5%) females were studied. Median age was 16 months (range, 10.6-60 months), and median weight was 11.9 kg (range, 9.3-27.4 kg). Ten children had neuroblastoma (58.8%), 4 had ganglioneuroma (23.5%), and 3 had ganglioneuroblastoma (17.7%). The median duration of the operation was 90 minutes (range, 45-180 minutes), with complete thoracoscopic resection in all cases. Two children (11.8%) developed Horner syndrome postoperatively. No deaths were reported, and no recurrence was noted during a median follow-up period of 16 months (range, 8.9-28.6 months).

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery resection of mediastinal neurogenic tumors in children produced good results, with no recurrence and minimal postoperative complications. The major advantages of this approach are the avoidance of thoracotomy complications and the enhanced surgical accuracy provided by improved visualization.