[Pleuro-pericardial cysts. Case reports and clinical-diagnostic as well as therapeutic considerations]

Three patients with pleuropericardial cysts are reported. The authors accoding to what exists in literature confirm the congenital origin of this relatively rare pathology. It is benign and rapresents 6-19% of all mediastinal neoplasms. This lesion is more common in adults and prefer IV-VI decade of life. Usually this cyst constitute a casual radiological report because most of these tumours are asymptomatic. In our experience only one case was characterized by dyspnea. The authors, besides, consider CT of great help in diagnosis of pleuropericadial cyst in view of its high specificity. Thoracoscopy, result very important to diagnosis and exeresis of this neoplasm when doubts no persist as to the true nature of the lesion. Surgical treatment of pleuropericadial cyst is the only therapy. In our experience thoracotomy was preferred with excellent results and no postoperative complications or recurrences.