Video-assisted thoracoscopic resection of a mediastinal cyst: report of a case.

Video-assisted endoscopic surgery has recently been expanding its potential, which is shown by our report herein describing the case of a 23-year-old woman for whom successful thoracoscopic resection of a mediastinal cystic lesion was carried out. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful with minimal pain and a prompt recovery. Histological examination confirmed that the lesion was a benign cystic teratoma. We believe that video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery will become the standard procedure for most mediastinal cystic lesions in the future.