Mediastinal compression syndromes due to idiopathic fibrosing mediastinitis--report of three cases and review of the literature.

Fibrosing mediastinitis is the most often observed benign cause of mediastinal compression syndromes, particularly the vena cava superior syndrome. We report 3 cases with such compression syndromes (2 x superior vena cava syndrome, 1 x symptomatic tracheal obstruction) due to fibrosing mediastinitis in which tumor resection led to a relief of symptoms. The operative procedures performed in our cases and in general as well as conservative treatment modalities reported for this rare disease are discussed with respect to our own experience and that of the recent publications in the European and American literature.