Abstract

The incidence rate of pericardial cysts accounts for nearly 7% of all mediastinal cysts. They occur in one in 100.000 people. They may either be of congenital origin or acquired. Their most common location is the right anterior cardiophrenic angle. This is a report of a case who underwent mediastinoscopy for a 3x4 cm coelomic pericardial cyst with an atypical location in the paratracheal area. A paratracheal cyst was incidentally detected in a 41 year old male patient. The cyst was in the upper right mediastinum with a paratracheal location. The patient underwent mediastinoscopy and the cyst was completely removed. Postoperative pathology reported a coelomic pericardial cyst. The patient was discharged on the 3rd postoperative day. Mediastinoscopy is a less invasive method compared to median sternotomy, thoracotomy and VATS in a mediastinal cyst. (Tur Toraks Der 2010; 11: 184-6)