Five patients who harbored large intrathoracic paraspinal neurogenic tumors were treated using thoracoscopic techniques to achieve gross-total tumor resection. All tumors were entirely intrathoracic except one that had an intraspinal extension, and all tumors were treated entirely thoracoscopically except for this one. Gross-total resection was achieved in all cases. The mean clinical follow-up period was 6.8 months. Postoperatively, one patient developed Horner's syndrome. The only other complication was transient intercostal neuralgia (two patients), which has resolved in both patient. No evidence of disease was demonstrated clinically or on follow-up imaging in any patient. Thoracoscopy is an excellent modality with which to treat these tumors, in part because it is associated with significantly less morbidity than open thoracotomy and costotransversectomy procedures. Endoscopic transthoracic approaches reduce the approach-related soft-tissue morbidity by preserving the normal tissues of the chest wall, avoiding rib retraction and muscle transection, reducing postoperative pain, and facilitating recovery. This technique has become the senior author's (C.A.D.'s) surgical approach of choice for the removal of intrathoracic benign paraspinal neurogenic tumors. It has also become the preferred method by which to perform thoracic sympathectomy and remove central, herniated thoracic discs.
Intercostal neuralgia as a symptom of an osteoblastoma in thoracic spine
