Infrasternal mediastinoscopic surgery for anterior mediastinal masses

Background: Infrasternal mediastinoscopic surgery is a new alternative to the thoracoscopic approach for patients with anterior mediastinal masses. Methods: We applied this technique to 18 thymectomies, one thymomectomy, and one cystectomy in a total of 20 patients with anterior mediastinal masses and then assessed the surgical results. Results: Infrasternal mediastinoscopic surgery was accomplished in 18 of the 20 patients (90%). The pathological diagnoses included 13 Masaoka stage I thymomas, one stage II thymoma, two stage III thymomas, one thymic cyst, one pericardial cyst, one thymic granuloma, and one mature teratoma. Two patients with stage III thymoma required conversion to sternotomy, one for invasion into the innominate vein and the other for invasion into the pericardium. There was no surgically related mortality or complications in any patients. Conclusion: Infrasternal mediastinoscopic surgery is safe and feasible for stage I thymoma and other benign tumors in the anterior mediastinum.