A multidisciplinary approach to the management of anterior mediastinal masses in children

• Published in: Journal of pediatric surgery 2015-05, Vol.50 (5), p.875-878
• Main Authors: Acker, Shannon N, Linton, Jacqueline, Tan, Gee Mei, Garrington, Timothy P, Bruny, Jennifer, Hilden, Joanne M, Hoffman, Lindsey M, Partrick, David A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Anesthesia - methods; Anterior mediastinal mass; Child; Child, Preschool; Diagnostic Imaging; Disease Management; Female; Humans; Infant; Male; Mediastinal Neoplasms - diagnosis; Mediastinal Neoplasms - surgery; Multidisciplinary approach; Operative planning; Pediatric oncology; Pediatrics; Retrospective Studies; Surgery; Tumor diagnosis; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0022-3468; 1531-5037
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2014.09.054

Abstract Purpose Anterior mediastinal masses (AMM) pose a diagnostic challenge to surgeons, oncologists, anesthesiologists, intensivists, and interventional radiologists as induction of general anesthesia can cause airway obstruction and cardiovascular collapse. We hypothesized that in the majority of patients, diagnosis can be obtained through biopsy of extrathoracic tissue. Methods We performed a retrospective review of all patients in the solid tumor oncology clinic with a diagnosis of AMM between 2002 and 2012 including preoperative evaluation and management prior to obtaining a tissue diagnosis, clinical course and complications. Results We identified 69 patients with AMM (mean age 12.2 ± 4.4 years, 64% male) secondary to Hodgkin lymphoma (34), Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (26), and other diagnoses (9). The majority of patients (56, 81.2%) underwent biopsy of tissue outside of the mediastinal mass. Local anesthesia with sedation was used for successful biopsy in 21 (30%) patients. Four (5.8%) required repeat biopsy due to inadequate sample obtained at initial procedure. Three (4.4%) suffered respiratory complications with no fatalities or severe complications. Conclusions Our data demonstrate that in the majority of children with AMM, tissue biopsy can be successfully obtained from tissue outside of the mass itself with minimal complications and highlight the importance of multidisciplinary preoperative planning to minimize anesthetic risks.