Review of 29 patients with neurogenic mediastinal tumors treated in our department 1972-1992

The 29 patients with neurogenic mediastinal tumors treated from 1972 to 1992 represet 17.6 % of the 165 patients with primary mediastinal tumors. There were 14 schwannomas (48.3%), 1 neurofibroma (3.5%), 3 malignant schwannomas (10.3%), 7 ganglioneuromas (24.1%), 3 ganglioneuroblastomas (10.3%) and 1 neuroblastoma (3.5%). The incidence of malignant tumors was higher in children (4/7, 57.1%) than in adults (3/22, 13.6%). Symptoms related to the disease were noted in 4 patients with benign tumors (18.2%) and in 5 patients with malignant tumors (71.4%). Complete surgical resection was performed successfully in 27 of the 29 patients (93.1%).