[The surgical treatment of patients with benign tumors and cysts of the mediastinum].

The article deals with the experience in the surgical treatment of 315 patients with benign tumors and cysts of the anterior (in 58.8%) and posterior (in 41.2%) mediastinum. Various methods of intervention--transpleural and extrapleural--were employed. Some extrapleural approaches were developed at the clinic. The clinical postoperative data show that they cause little trauma. Indications in observance of which these approaches may be considered optimal are determined.