[Surgical treatment in tumors of the anterior mediastinum]. / Tratamiento quirurgico en los tumores de mediastino anterior.

Anterior mediastinal tumours (A.M.T.) suppose a diagnostic problem owing to nonspecific clinical signs and symptoms. In the last twenty years, we have seen ten patients with A.M.T., 50 per 100 of which were fortuitous radiologic findings and the remaining 50 per 100 were diagnosed from nonspecific symptoms. Diagnostic imaging techniques were used to classify the anterior location of the tumours. Posterolateral thoracotomy was performed in the first six patients and sternotomy in the remaining four. In conclusion, sternotomy provides a wider surgical field and is to be recommended in A.M.T. surgery. Low morbidity and mortality support an early decision for thoracic surgery.