ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Management strategies for anterior mediastinal masses (AMMs) depend strongly on the histopathological diagnosis. The manifestations of these masses sometimes are an emergency because of large airway or great vessel compression which make general anesthesia challenging and hazardous and many authors have emphasized the dangers of general anesthesia in such patients. METHODS: This prospective study carried on 23 patients with AMMs and large airway or vessel compression via mini-mediastinotomy under local anesthesia for taking histological biopsy. RESULTS: . A definite histolopathological diagnosis was made in all cases. Morbidity was seen in one patient with entering the pleural cavity, there was no mortality. Out of 23 patients, 9 patients had already undergone less invasive procedures without definite diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Mini-mediastinotomy under local anesthesia for diagnostic biopsy in AMMs with airway compression is safe, minimally invasive, effective, and is useful in therapeutic decision making for AMMs.
