[Transmanubrial Osteomuscular-sparing Approach for Resection of Superior Mediastinal Schwannoma]

Various approaches can be applied to resect superior mediastinal tumor. It is important to choose the procedure according to the location, size, and characteristics of the tumor in order to perform safe procedure surgery because of distinctive anatomy of this site. We hereby report on a case of Schwannoma of the superior mediastinum resected by the transmanubrial approach. A 67-year-old woman was referred to our department to examine an abnormal chest shadow found at a regular health checkup. Computed tomography revealed a tumor 58×52 mm in size extending from the left supraclavicular fossa to the upper border of the aortic arch. The surgery was performed under the diagnosis of neurogenic tumor using the transmanubrial approach. The tumor was resected safely and the pathological diagnosis was a Schwannoma. Transmanubrial approach was found to be quite useful in securing an adequate visual field and enabling the safe separation of blood vessels and nerves from the tumor.