Thoracoscopic resection of benign schwannoma.

The recent improvement of endoscopic surgical instruments allows new therapeutical application of thoracoscopy. We report a thoracoscopic resection of a benign schwannoma of the 6th intercostal nerve in a 35-year-old patient. The operative technique and extraction of the tumor from the chest is described. Postoperative morbidity was minor. We consider the thoracoscopic resection as first choice of treatment.