[Tumors of the mediastinal nerves. Diagnosis and possibilities of conservative surgery. Apropos of 2 cases]

Abstract

Two new cases of tumour of nerves running in the mediastinum are reported; one was a schwannoma of the right phrenic nerve, the other a schwannoma of the vagus nerve. In both cases the diagnosis was suspected on the basis of computed tomography scans. Treatment consisted of nerve-sparing tumour enucleation. The result was incomplete in the first patient, with partial paralysis of the diaphragm, and complete in the second patient, with no disturbance of pharyngeal motility. The authors discuss the diagnosis of these tumours and the validity of nerve-sparing surgery.