Methods: Twenty-seven cases that were operated between 1992-2004 due to primary mediastinal mass were reviewed retrospectively.

Results: 26.6 years mean aged, 19 male 8 female total 27 patients were attended 49% (n:13) with chest pain, 37% (n:10) with dyspnea and 11% (n:3) with coughing. There was superior vena cava syndrome in one patient. According to patients’ thoracal computed tomography imaging results masses were located 41% (n:11) at posterior, 37% (n:10) at anterior and 22% (n:6) at visseral mediastinum. Surgically we approached to 70% (n:19) of patients with posterolateral thoracotomy, and 30% (n:8) with median sternotomy. While 89% (n:24) of masses were totaly extirpated, 11% (n:3) were extirpated partially. Average diameter of the extirpated masses were measured as 9.4 ± 5.2 cm. After histopatological examination, in tumour group (n: 21) 52% (n:11) neurogenic tumour, 20% (n:4) tymic tumour, 14% (n:3) teratoma and 14% (n:3) lymphoma; and in cystic group (n:6) 66% (n:4) broncogenic cyst, 17% (n:1) pericardial cyst ve 17% (n:1) hydatic cyst were reported. Postoperatively, while there was diaphragmatic elevation in one patient, there was athelectasia in another and there was myasthenic crisis in a timoma case. However there was no mortality in early period, nine months later one patients’ death was recorded because of tumoral disease.

Conclusion: In diagnosis and treatment of primary mediastinal masses, surgical approach is safely applicable basic method.