Primary mediastinal tumors in children.

Mediastinal masses in children constitute a heterogeneous group of malignant and benign neoplasms. The majority of malignant tumors in our series of 188 children with a mediastinal mass were Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (87 patients) arising in the anterior and middle mediastinum. Ganglioneuroma (17) arising in the posterior mediastinum made up the bulk of benign tumors (52). Infants less than 2 yr old presented with symptoms of tracheal compression, whereas older children had fewer symptoms but a far greater likelihood of having a malignancy. In the assessment of patients with mediastinal tumors, the posteroanterior and lateral chest roentgenograms were most often diagnostic, and computed tomography of the chest provided the most information concerning preoperative resectability. The excellent survival of patients with stage I and II Hodgkin's disease reflects the radiosensitivity of the tumor; in our series of 33 patients, survival was not increased by radical resection. Unlike lymphomatous tumors, neurogenic masses should be completely excised. When initial exploration reveals unresectability, biopsy followed by radiation therapy and second-look excision of the tumor can be accomplished. In patients with primary mediastinal sarcomas, total resection should be carried out if possible. In our series, adjuvant radiation therapy or chemotherapy was effective in only 1 of 15 children with sarcoma. Surgical treatment of all mediastinal masses except lymphoma should be complete excision. In cases of suspected lymphoma, cervical or supraclavicular node biopsy can yield adequate tissue for diagnosis.