BACKGROUND: The main cause of vocal cord palsy (VCP) is idiopathic impairment of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN). However, solid tumors along the pathway of the RLN can also impact the nerve\'s function. We presented a patient with a thyroid lesion and VCP due to a bulky metastatic mass (uterine cancer) on the aortic arch field in the mediastinum. The report aims to show the significance of comorbid tumors in thyroid pathology and the importance of additional diagnostic methods in avoiding unnecessary surgeries. A patient\'s lifetime and the outcome of the disease were also presented.
METHODS: A 58-year-old Ukrainian woman with a hoarse voice, intermittent dry cough, and weakness was presented to an endocrine surgeon. Thyroid pathology included signs of hypothyroidism treated with Thyroxine 112.5 µg and a nodule in the left lobe. The lesion is located on the posterior aspect of the lobe, which could probably be a cause of RLN involvement. Fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) was performed twice with Bethesda category 2 result. Fibrolaryngoscopy (FLS) revealed the median position of the left vocal cord. Idiopathic, laryngeal, and thyroid causes of the VCP were excluded. Additionally, the patient displayed her anamnesis of the endometrial clear cell carcinoma following hysterectomy, external beam radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. The mediastinal metastasis was revealed sixteen years later. A chest computed tomography (CT) with intravenous contrast was done. A bulky tumor was found right under the aortic arch. Subsequently, the voice complaints reduced significantly after 4 chemotherapy courses. Cancer progression had led to the appearance of lymph node metastases on the supraclavicular region. Following six months the 60-year-old patient had passed away.
CONCLUSIONS: A history of the disease should always be kept in mind when assessing a patient\'s complaints. VCP in case of thyroid pathology and previous secondary malignancy may be caused by metastatic tumor anywhere along the RLN pathway. Such a rare case shows the importance of additional methods of examination which may avoid unnecessary thyroid surgeries.

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BACKGROUND: Mediastinal lipoma/liposarcoma is a rare tumor of the mediastinum.
METHODS: This article reported one case of giant anterior superior mediastinum well-differentiated liposarcoma involving the left thoracic cavity with symptom of dysphagia. The mediastinum liposarcoma was completely resected through a left thoracotomy. Histologic examination and molecular pathological test clarified the diagnosis as well-differentiated mediastinal liposarcoma. There has been no evidence of recurrence during the 8 months follow-up.
CONCLUSIONS: Molecular pathological examination of the MDM2, CDK4 and p16 gene in tumors provides the diagnostic gold standard in distinguishing well-differentiated liposarcoma from lipoma. Complete surgical resection is the first-line treatment choice for mediastinal lipoma/ liposarcoma.

BACKGROUND: Posterior mediastinal neurogenic tumors are among the most frequent mediastinal masses in adults. These tumors may be dumbbell shaped, extending into the spinal canal, exclusively paraspinal or apical tumors extending in the cervical region. In this report, we present our experience in the surgical resection of these tumors and discuss the surgical strategies for such tumors.
METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed of 121 patients who underwent surgery for posterior mediastinal neurogenic tumors at our department during the period 2009 to 2016. Seventy-four tumors were excised via video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). Other approaches included thoracotomy, supraclavicular incision, supraclavicular incision plus thoracotomy/VATS, and a posterior approach with laminectomy combined with thoracotomy/VATS.
RESULTS: Tumors were resected completely in 119 cases and partially in two. The majority of the tumors were benign nerve sheath tumors. No recurrence developed during postoperative median follow-up period of 31 months.
CONCLUSIONS: Most posterior neurogenic tumors can be resected via VATS. Thoracotomy is the appropriate surgical approach for large tumors. A supraclavicular approach is recommended for tumors extending in the cervical region, and this can be combined with VATS or thoracotomy in case of larger masses. A posterior approach could be used for patients with dumbbell tumors.

Thoracic dumbbell tumors are uncommon neoplasms arising from neurogenic elements of the posterior mediastinum. Surgical removal of these tumors with mediastinal, neuroforaminal and intraspinal components can often be challenging. The purpose of this study is to present our experience of single-stage removal of dumbbell tumors of the posterior mediastinum and to discuss the surgical strategies for such tumors.
A retrospective analysis was performed on 20 patients who underwent surgery for thoracic dumbbell tumors at our department during the period 2008 to 2016. Patient demographics, clinical features, operative reports, and pre- and postoperative images were reviewed.
Complete resection was achieved in all patients, with no postoperative mortality. Surgical excision was performed by laminectomy plus Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) in 10 patients and laminectomy plus thoracotomy in 4 patients. Two patients underwent VATS alone. Supraclavicular and transthoracic approach was performed in 2 patients. Another 2 patients were treated with supraclavicular approach alone. The mean operative time was 244 min (range 55-370 min), with mean estimated blood loss (EBL) of 360 ml (range 50-790 ml). Postoperative complications included one case of Horner\'s syndrome and one case of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage. At a mean follow-up of 29 months no patients showed recurrence of the tumor.
Thoracic dumbbell tumors should be evaluated for intraspinal and neuroforaminal involvement. Single-stage posterior laminectomy plus VATS/thoracotomy, VATS/thoracotomy, and supraclavicular alone or combined with transthoracic approach all could be the preferred method for removing these dumbbell tumors with satisfactory outcomes.

We report a 53-year-old man with metastases of alveolar soft-part sarcoma originated from the mediastinum. He was hospitalized due to lower extremities\' paralysis. Computed tomography scan findings revealed multiple nodules of bilateral lungs, swollen mediastinal lymph nodes, and osteolysis of thoracic vertebrae. We performed spinal decompression and biopsy from vertebra. And, we finally diagnosed this case as metastases of mediastinal alveolar soft-part sarcoma which was removed 10 years ago. Alveolar soft-part sarcoma is rare tumor accounted for 0.5%-1.0% of soft tissue sarcoma that often occurs primarily in the lower extremities and trunk. It is difficult to distinguish between alveolar soft-part sarcoma and paraganglioma, renal cell carcinoma and granular cell tumor morphologically. Periodic acid-Schiff stain and immunohistochemical staining of ASPL-TFE3 are useful in making a definitive diagnosis of alveolar soft-part sarcoma. This case is a rare case of alveolar soft-part sarcoma originated in the mediastinum with local recurrence and distant metastases 10 years after the initial surgery.

BACKGROUND: To present the technique of single-port video-assisted thoracoscopic mediastinal tumor resection, which includes limited thymectomy, extended thymectomy, cyst excision and posterior mediastinal tumor excision, and the early results of resection with the use of this technique.
METHODS: Forty patients with mediastinal tumors were treated with single-port thoracoscopic mediastinal resection at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital between April 2014 and September 2015. The surgical intervention was performed through the fourth or fifth intercostal space at the anterior axillary line. A 5 or 10 mm 30 degree video camera and working instruments were employed simultaneously at this incision site throughout the surgery.
RESULTS: Among the 40 cases included in the final analysis, 10 extended thymectomies, 7 limited thymectomies, nine cyst excisions and 14 tumor excisions were performed successfully without the need for conversion. For the 40 patients who underwent single-port video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), the mean operation time was 97.3±31.2 min and the average blood loss was 29.75±39.77 mL. The average length of the incision wound was 3.22±0.79 cm and the average length of postoperative hospital stay was 3.72±1.63 days. There were no mortalities and mobility was achieved within 30 days postoperatively.
CONCLUSIONS: Our preliminary report suggests that uniportal VATS for mediastinal tumor resection is a promising and safe technique within a short-term period.