• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.21 no.5
• /
• pp.863-870
• /
• 1988

Many varieties of space-occupying lesions can occur in the mediastinum. During the twenty-three-year period 1966-1988, we had experienced the 151 cases of primary mediastinal tumors and cysts at the Thoracic k Cardiovascular Dept., CUMC. The most common histologic types were thymomas and germ cell tumors, followed by neurogenic tumors and lymphomas. Most non-neoplastic lesions were granulomatous lesions and cysts. The mediastinal tumors were often asymptomatic, the malignant tumors in 35.4%, the benign tumors and cysts in 72.8% of the cases. The most common symptom was pain, which occurred in one-fourth of the patients. The most useful diagnostic method was X-ray examination of the chest. However, a final diagnosis could usually be made only at operation. Nine malignant tumors[30.0%] were excised radically, 17[56.7%] palliatively and 4[13.3%] were only biopsied. Almost all benign tumors except tuberculous lymphadenitis were radically excised. Fourteen patients received postoperative radiation therapy and 17 received chemotherapy. The postoperative complications were developed in 15[11.7%] and hospital mortality was 0.8%.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.46 no.6
• /
• pp.767-774
• /
• 1999

Background : Tuberculous mediastinal lymphadenitis (TML) is a relatively commonly encountered in Korea. However, there were no datas available on TML without other combined tuberculous infections in Korea. We retrospectively analyzed clinical manifestations, radiologic findings, Chest CT scan findings, the duration of treatment, and follow up Chest CT scan findings of 23 cases who had only TML. Method : 23 cases from 1991 to 1997 with TML confirmed by biopsy and had no other combined tuberculous infections were studied retrospectively. Results : Of the 23 cases, 7 cases were male and 16 female. The male to female ratio was 1 : 2.4. Mean age was 31 years and the most prevalent age group was the 3rd decade(43%). The most common presenting symptoms were fever(39%) followed by no symptom, cough, swallowing difficulty, and chest discomfort. On simple chest X-ray, mediastinal enlargement were noted in 20 cases(90%). The most frequently involved site was the paratracheal node in 11 cases with the right to left side involvement ratio being 4.6 : 1. On chest CT scan, the most commonly enlarged node was the paratracheal node(33%) followed by the subcarinal(20%), hilar(13%), tracheobronchial (8%), subaortic(8%), supraclavicular(8%) and anterior. mediastinal nodes. 6 cases were dropt out due to incomplete follow up. Thirteen cases were treated with HERZ regimen and the mean duration of treatment was 14 months. Three cases were treated with second line drug regimens(Tarivid, Pyrazinamide, Streptomycin plus Ethambutol or Para-aminosalicylic acid) for 18 months. In HERZ groups, one case was recurred after 10 months later and retreatment was done by same HERZ regimen during 12 months. Follow up chest CT scan after completion of treatment were done in 13 cases and that revealed more than a 50% decrease in size in 77% of the cases and no interval change in 23% of the cases. Conclusion : In cases of TML without other combined tuberculous infection, the minimal duration of treatment was required 12 months by HERZ regimen and 18 months by a 2nd line regimen or more. Further studies will be needed to confirm the treatment duration for TML without other combined tuberculous infections.