Mediastinal Tumors in 85 Children

Objective To explore the clinical characteristics of children and adolescents diagnosed as mediastinal tumors,and the relations between pathological characteristics and the tumor position,between pathological characteristics and clinical age.To discuss diagnostic measures as well as treatment and to evaluate the diagnosis,treatment and prognostic factors. Methods A total of 85 children and adolescents diagnosed as mediastinal tumors and treated in Sun Yat-Sen University from Jan.1991 to Dec.2006 were selected and retrospectively analyzed.Statistical data were analyzed with SPSS 13.0 software.Qualitative data were analyzed by Chi-square test and survival rate was calculated by life table method.Kaplan-Meier method was performed to evaluate the prognostic factors in univariant analysis.The independent prognostic factors were screened with Cox regression model. Results Specific relations were found between pathological characteristics and position of mediastinal tumors(P=0.001),and age of onset(P=0.010).Among 85 cases,37 patients with benign tumor all survived.The 5-year survival rate of the 48 patients with malignant tumor was 52%(25/48 cases).Univariate analysis indicated the prognostic factors of malignant mediastinal tumors were:adjuvant therapy(P=0.061,0.001),and tumor site(P=0.046).Cox regression model indicated the independent prognostic factors were adjuvant therapy(P=0.010). Conclusions X-ray and CT scanning are major options for diagnosis.There are specific relations between pathological characteristics and the position of mediastinal tumors,and age of onset.Adjuvant therapy and tumor site are prognostic factors in malignant mediastinal tumors.