Laparoscopic management of a posterior mediastinal tumor mimicking an adrenal neoplasm.

Background: Rarely, a posterior mediastinal mass may mimic an adrenal tumor on preoperative computed tomography scan. The intraoperative discovery that a mass thought to be associated with the adrenal gland actually is above the diaphragm in the posteroinferior mediastinum poses a challenge for the laparoscopic surgeon. Conversion to a thoracotomy or to videothoracoscopy incurs additional morbidity and risk for the patient.

Methods: We describe a technique for the transdiaphragmatic removal of a benign mass from the posterior mediastinum. A posterior mediastinal tumor was detected during a laparoscopic procedure for a suspected right adrenal tumor. Frozen section proved benign, and the mass was resected laparoscopically via transdiaphragmatic access to the posterior mediastinum.

Results: No complications were noted during or after surgery. The patient was ready for discharge from the hospital on postoperative day 1.

Conclusions: Transdiaphragmatic resection was done successfully instead of conversion to a thoracotomy or thoracoscopic procedure for a benign posterior mediastinal tumor found incidentally during laparoscopic surgery for a presumed adrenal lesion. This transdiaphragmatic approach can be applied to selected benign mediastinal masses.