title: Thoracoscopic surgery in the management of mediastinal masses. Indications, complications, limitations.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In recent times thoracoscopy has been used for diagnoses and treatment of mediastinal masses. This study is a preliminary review of indications, complications, and limitations in this field of surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-eight patients with mediastinal masses were operated in the Clinical Oncological Centre, Kazan. Twenty-two of them had anterior mediastinal growths; six had posterior mediastinal tumors. Thoracoscopy was diagnostic in 14 cases; it was therapeutic in 14 cases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The definite diagnosis was achieved in all patients. In cases of benign lesions the operations were successfully completed thoracoscopically. All patients underwent a postoperative period with low pain and short postoperative time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Video-assisted thoracoscopy is indicated in cases of mediastinal masses, both for diagnosis and treatment. It has significant advantages compared to normal thoracoscopy and mediastinoscopy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Clinical Oncological Centre, Sibirski trakt 29, Kazan 420000, Russia.
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Dmitriev
authors.forename: E I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Sigal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008477:Mediastinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D013906:Thoracoscopy; D014741:Video Recording