[The role of thoracotomy for malignant mediastinal tumors (MMT)-- survey of consecutive 223 patients].

To elucidate the role of surgery for MMT, 214 patients during past 34 years were historically divided into the early (1960-1971, n = 80), intermediate (1972-1981, n = 79) and late series (1982-1993, n = 64). The thoracotomy rate for MMT, the rate of thoracotomy after preoperative diagnosis was done, and the number of postoperative survivors were significantly higher in the late series, compared with the early series. The intermediate series located between the early and late series. Nine patients in the late series undergoing chemo-radiation therapies obtained a good result after complete resection of the residual tissue. We conclude that surgical treatment of MMT should be based on accurate preoperative diagnosis and a distinct role for multidisciplinary treatment, especially regarding malignant thymoma, malignant lymphoma and malignant germ cell tumor.