[Endodermal and coelomic mediastinal cysts]

Eight cases of mediastinal cysts of endodermic and celomatic origin were operated on at Istituto di Chirurgia Generale e Cardiovascolare, University of Milano: two were bronchogenic cysts, two enteric and four pericardial. Embryology, morphologic presentation, clinical feature and diagnostic aspects are discussed for each group of cysts. The most modern techniques, radiological or not, available for the preoperative diagnosis are illustrated and the indication to surgical treatment of these benign mediastinal lesions is discussed.