title: Giant cystic schwannoma of the middle mediastinum with cervical extension.
abstract: Schwannomas (neurilemmomas) are benign tumors arising from the Schwann cells of the neural sheath. They are typically, well-encapsulated lesions which rarely adhere to the adjacent structures. In the chest, schwannomas are often seen within the posterior mediastinum and commonly originating along intercostal nerves. Several operative approaches have previously been described for the resection of these tumors, including thoracoscopic techniques and posterolateral thoracotomy. We report in this case a giant cystic mediastinal schwannoma of the left recurrent laryngeal nerve with cervical extension, unresectable by the usual described approaches, which was completely removed through a cervical approach.
authors: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Habib Bourguiba Hospital, Sfax, Tunisia.
authors: Majdi
authors: M
authors: Gueldich
authors: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Habib Bourguiba Hospital, Sfax, Tunisia.
authors: Abdesslem
authors: A
authors: Hentati
authors: Department of ENT Surgery, Habib Bourguiba Hospital, Sfax, Tunisia.
authors: Amine
authors: A
authors: Chakroun
authors: Department of Radiology, Habib Bourguiba Hospital, Sfax, Tunisia.
authors: Hanen
authors: H
authors: Abid
authors: Department of Pulmonology, Hédi Chaker Hospital, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia.
authors: Samy
authors: S
authors: Kammoun
authors: Department of Pulmonology, Hédi Chaker Hospital, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia; msaadsameh@yahoo.fr.
authors: Sameh
authors: S
authors: M'saad
authors: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Habib Bourguiba Hospital, Sfax, Tunisia.
authors: Imed
authors: I
authors: Frikha
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007823:Laryngeal Nerves / Q000473:pathology*; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D009442:Neurilemmoma / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D013070:Speech Therapy; D013908:Thoracotomy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014826:Vocal Cord Paralysis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation
keywords: cervicotomy; mediastinal tumor; schwannoma; thoracotomy