We reviewed 40 cases of primary mediastinal tumors which were operated on at Seoul Paik Hospital from September, 1987 to December, 1995. Of these, 18 were male and 22 were female. The patient ranged in age from 4 years to 68 years with a mean age of 34.1 years. The most common symptoms included chest pain(12.5%), cough(12.5%), dyspnea(7.5%), and palpable neck mass(7.5%), and symptoms were absent at the time of diagnosis in 37.5% of cases. Chest roentgenography and computed tomography(CT) were performed in all patients, and magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) in 5 patients, and transthoracic needle aspiration (TTNA) performed in 22 patients. The sensitivity of TTNA was 72.7%(16 of 22 patients). The lesion was located 60% in the anterosuperior mediastinum, 35% in the posterior mediastinum, and 5% in the middle mediastinum. The primary tumors included thymic neoplasms(11 cases), germ cell tumors(7 cases), neurogenic tumors(10 cases) and a miscellaneous group. The malignant tumors(12.5%) were invasive thymoma(3 cases), spindle cell sarcoma(1 case), and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma(1 case). A complete excision was done in all 35 benign tumors and 3 malignant tumors. There was no operative mortality, and postoperative complications occurred in 3 cases.
Diagnosis ; Female ; Germ Cells ; Humans ; Male ; Mediastinal Neoplasms ; Mediastinum ; Mortality ; Neck ; Needles ; Postoperative Complications ; Radiography ; Seoul ; Thorax

Between 1987 and 1995, eleven patients with severe chronic corrosive stenosis of the hypopharynx and esophagus underwent surgical restoration of digestive continuity at Inje University Seoul Paik Hospital. There were 7 male and 4 female patients aged from 21 to 47 years (mean, 34 years). The caustic material was acid in 6 patients and alkali in 5 patients. The esophagus was reconstructed using the right colon in 9 and left colon in 2. The cervical approach and the side of proximal anastomosis depended on the status of the pyriform sinus of the hypopharynx. In the neck, J-formed incision was made along the sternocleidomastoid muscle. The sternohyoid and thyrohyoid muscles were divided transversely to expose the thyroid cartilage. Hypopharyngeal opening for proximal anastomosis was made by reverse triangular formed resection of the thyroid cartilage after elevation of perichondrium. Immediately after operation, dysphagia and aspiration into trachea were common, so training of swallowing was required. Feeding gastrostomy was usually maintained for 3 months until restoration of swallowing function was confirmed. There was graft necrosis in 3 patients, who were treated with jejunal free graft. Revisional procedures for stenosis of cervical anastomosis in 3 patients consisted of widening of pharyngocecostomy site in 2 and resection of adhesive band in one. Return of normal swallowing assuring normal nutrition was obtained in 10 of 11 cases.
Adhesives ; Alkalies ; Colon ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; Deglutition ; Deglutition Disorders ; Esophageal Stenosis ; Esophagus ; Female ; Gastrostomy ; Humans ; Hypopharynx ; Male ; Muscles ; Neck ; Necrosis ; Pyriform Sinus ; Seoul ; Thyroid Cartilage ; Trachea ; Transplants