Lateral- or prone-position video-assisted thoracic surgery for dumbbell-type posterior mediastinal tumors: pros and cons

Abstract

AbstractSurgery for dumbbell-type posterior mediastinal tumors (D-PMTs) is difficult because surgeons should confirm the tumor’s extension into the spinal cord and pay attention to the Adamkiewicz artery. We describe two patients of D-PMTs who underwent lateral- or prone-position video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). In patient 1 (a 70-year-old woman), the tumor extended to the spinal canal through the fourth thoracic intervertebral foramen. After hemi-laminectomies, she was moved to the lateral position, and the tumor was resected. In patient 2 (a 16-year-old boy), the tumor extended to the spinal canal through the seventh thoracic intervertebral foramen. Additionally, 320-row high-resolution computed tomography showed Adamkiewicz arteries running through the sixth and eighth thoracic intervertebral foramina. After laminectomy, the tumor was resected without repositioning. Prone-position VATS is a useful approach for D-PMTs because it provides a better view of the vertebrae compared with the lateral position. We discuss the advantages and disadvantages of both approaches.