title: Videothoracoscopic surgery for thoracic neurogenic tumors: a 7-year experience.
abstract: While videothoracoscopic surgery has rapidly become accepted as an effective method of performing minimally invasive surgery, the advantages and feasibility of using this surgical technique for the treatment of neurogenic tumors of the thorax are not yet well defined. Between August 1992 and May 1999, 15 solitary thoracic neurogenic tumors were surgically excised using videothoracoscopic surgery in our hospital. The patients comprised six women and nine men, with a mean age of 38.1 years. The mean tumor size was 3.5 cm, with a range of 1.5-6.5 cm and included 12 schwannomas, 2 ganglioneuromas, and 1 neurofibroma. Among the 15 patients, 4 were treated using videothoracoscopic surgery plus minithoracotomy. The only complication associated with videothoracoscopic surgery was hoarseness which developed in one patient. Our experience indicates that videothoracoscopic surgery is a useful alternative to facilitate the excision of small thoracic neurogenic tumors.
authors: Department of Surgery, National Okinawa Hospital, Ginowan-shi, Japan.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Sakumoto
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Inafuku
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Shimoji
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Nomura
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Honma
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Kawabata
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Ohta
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Kuniyoshi
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Ishikawa
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Genka
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005729:Ganglioneuroma / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009442:Neurilemmoma / Q000601:surgery; D009455:Neurofibroma / Q000601:surgery; D013899:Thoracic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted; D016896:Treatment Outcome