Anterior trans cervicothoracic approach for complete resection of cervicothoracic mediastinal neurogenic tumors

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Neurogenic mediastinal tumors comprise a wide range of benign and malignant diseases. A group of these tumors, located at thoracic apex, sometimes spread to cervical spaces causing numerous surgical difficulties. In thoracotomy approaches, due to proximity of the tumors to major blood vessels, complete removal of these tumors from cervical spaces is impossible or may cause intraoperative severe bleeding or other dangerous incidents Because of the adjacent major vessels that are not visible. The aim of this study is to report cases of surgical treatment of such tumors using Anterior Trans Cervicothoracic Approach [ATCA]