title: A multidisciplinary approach to the management of anterior mediastinal masses in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Anterior mediastinal masses (AMM) pose a diagnostic challenge to surgeons, oncologists, anesthesiologists, intensivists, and interventional radiologists as induction of general anesthesia can cause airway obstruction and cardiovascular collapse. We hypothesized that in the majority of patients, diagnosis can be obtained through biopsy of extrathoracic tissue.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective review of all patients in the solid tumor oncology clinic with a diagnosis of AMM between 2002 and 2012 including preoperative evaluation and management prior to obtaining a tissue diagnosis, clinical course and complications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified 69 patients with AMM (mean age 12.2±4.4years, 64% male) secondary to Hodgkin lymphoma (34), Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (26), and other diagnoses (9). The majority of patients (56, 81.2%) underwent biopsy of tissue outside of the mediastinal mass. Local anesthesia with sedation was used for successful biopsy in 21 (30%) patients. Four (5.8%) required repeat biopsy due to inadequate sample obtained at initial procedure. Three (4.4%) suffered respiratory complications with no fatalities or severe complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data demonstrate that in the majority of children with AMM, tissue biopsy can be successfully obtained from tissue outside of the mass itself with minimal complications and highlight the importance of multidisciplinary preoperative planning to minimize anesthetic risks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO USA. Electronic address: Shannon.acker@ucdenver.edu.
authors.forename: Shannon N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Acker
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO USA. Electronic address: jacquelinton@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Linton
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Children's Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO USA. Electronic address: GeeMei.Tan@childrenscolorado.org.
authors.forename: Gee Mei
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Section of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Children's Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO USA. Electronic address: Timothy.garrington@childrenscolorado.org.
authors.forename: Timothy P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Garrington
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO USA. Electronic address: Jennifer.bruny@childrenscolorado.org.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bruny
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Section of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Children's Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO USA. Electronic address: Joanne.Hilden@childrenscolorado.org.
authors.forename: Joanne M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hilden
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Section of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Children's Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO USA. Electronic address: Lindsey.hoffman@ucdenver.edu.
authors.forename: Lindsey M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Hoffman
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO USA. Electronic address: David.partrick@childrenscolorado.org.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Partrick
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000758:Anesthesia / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D019468:Disease Management; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Anterior mediastinal mass; Multidisciplinary approach; Operative planning; Pediatric oncology; Tumor diagnosis