Percutaneous drainage of mediastinal pseudocysts.

Percutaneous catheter drainage of a mediastinal pseudocyst was performed in two patients. Access was gained through computed tomography (CT)-guided puncture of the abdominal portion of the pseudocyst in one patient, and a transhepatic-subxiphoid approach was used in the other. Guide wires and catheters were advanced into the mediastinal pseudocysts under CT control. Drainage was technically successful in both patients, with no procedure-related complications. Percutaneous drainage is an alternative to the surgical treatment of symptomatic and nonresolving mediastinal pseudocysts, provided that a safe access route can be found.