%0 Journal Article
%T Trap-Door Thoracotomy and Clamshell Thoracotomy as Surgical Approaches for Neuroblastoma and Other Thoracic Tumors in Children.
%A Mayer BFB
%A Schunn MC
%A Urla C
%A Schäfer JF
%A Fideler F
%A Neunhoeffer F
%A Schuhmann MU
%A Warmann SW
%A Fuchs J
%J Cancers (Basel)
%V 16
%N 2
%D 2024 Jan 15
%M 38254862
%F 6.575
%R 10.3390/cancers16020373
%X Solid tumors of the cervicothoracic junction, the posterior mediastinum, or bilateral dorsal thoracic tumors represent a challenge in pediatric surgical oncology. The aim of this study was to evaluate trap-door thoracotomy and clamshell thoracotomy as surgical approaches. A single-center retrospective study of children with solid tumors in these specific localizations was performed. From 2015 to 2023, 26 children (17 girls; 9 boys) were treated at a median age of 54 months (range 8-229). Tumor resection was performed for neuroblastoma (n = 11); metastatic disease (n = 7); malignant rhabdoid tumor (n = 4); Ewing sarcoma (n = 1); inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (n = 1); rhabdomyosarcoma (n = 1); and neurofibroma (n = 1). The surgical goal of macroscopic complete excision was achieved in all of the 14 children who underwent trap-door thoracotomy and in 11 of the 12 children who underwent clamshell thoracotomy. There were no major complications. At a median follow-up of 8 months (range 0-60), the disease was under local control or in complete remission in 66.7% of the children. In conclusion, surgical resection of solid tumors of the cervicothoracic junction in children can be performed safely and successfully with trap-door thoracotomy and with clamshell thoracotomy for posterior mediastinal or bilateral dorsal thoracic tumors.