Introduction The aim of the study was to evaluate the results of surgery to remove huge mediastinal masses and their pathology. Surgical resection was chosen for accurate diagnosis and treatment of the huge mediastinal masses extending into the pleural cavity. Methods Records were reviewed for eight patients who had the diagnosis of huge benign mediastinal masses and who underwent operation; details of the patients and operations were recorded. Results Mean age was 34.5 (range 22 to 44) years, and male-to-female ratio was 2:6. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were used to evaluate the location and extent of the abnormality and to characterize the tissue components of the mass. Most of the tumors were located in the posterior mediastinum. The most frequent presenting symptom was exertional dyspnea. The majority of cases underwent posterolateral thoracotomy, and complete resection was possible in seven patients. Partial resection could only be performed in one. The mean diameter of the resected masses was 15 × 10 cm. Histopathologic examination revealed 3 neurogenic tumors, 2 teratomas, 1 thymolipoma, and 1 ectopic thyroid, and 1 hemangioma. Minor complication was seen in two cases. Conclusion The presurgical thoracic MRI provided correct diagnosis along with radiologic characterization and topography. Surgery must be the preferred treatment in huge benign mediastinal masses.

Background: In this study, we aimed to compare the surgical results of video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy with the guillotine technique to the results of conventional video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy. Methods: Between January 2013 and December 2019, a total of 49 patients (20 males, 29 females; median age: 45 years; range, 11 to 73 years) who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy for benign lung pathologies were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups: the guillotine technique group (n=31) who had simultaneous cutting of the lobar artery and lobar bronchus with a single stapler, and the control group (n=18) who received conventional video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy. Demographic features of the patients, type of surgery, type of pulmonary resection, duration of the operation, postoperative length of hospital stay, postoperative pathological examination result, complications, and follow-up data were recorded. Results: The median operation time was 142.5 (range, 60 to 237) min and 90 (range, 55 to 180) min in the control and the guillotine technique groups, respectively, indicating a statistically significant difference (p<0.05). Bronchiectasis was the most common histopathological diagnosis in both groups. No intraoperative complication, long-term complications or mortality were observed in any of the patients. Conclusion: The guillotine lobectomy technique significantly reduces the duration of the operation. The adventitia and connective tissue around the lobar artery and lobar bronchus enable the closure of these structures with the supporting tissue and, therefore, reinforces the staples. The guillotine technique in video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy seems to be a cost-effective, reliable, and practical method that provides intraoperative convenience and shortens the operation time.

Background: In this study, we aimed to examine the development of knowledge on pectus deformities through a meticulous analysis of the 100 most-cited articles published on this topic. Methods: Publications related to pectus deformities from January 1975 to April 2020 were scanned using the Web of Science Core Collection database. The publications were ranked from maximum to minimum according to the number of citations and were examined in detail. Results: The 100 articles were published in 27 different journals and received a total of 8,290 citations. The average of the impact factors of journals in 2018 was 4.441. The mean citation density of all articles was 5.1±3.8. In the past years, a surgical technique definition and experience transfer were more frequently used, while complications and technical details were started to be presented in recent years. Conclusion: Our study results suggest that the studies of pectus deformities would continue and, from now on, issues such as complications and technical details would come to the forefront in the articles.