Pediatric chest II: Benign tumors and cysts.

Thoracic tumors are rare in children, and metastatic or malignant conditions must be excluded during the diagnostic evaluation. The majority of primary pulmonary neoplasms in children are malignant; this article primarily addresses benign tumors. Surgical resection is the standard treatment for benign thoracic tumors in children. Thoracotomy is a traditional approach, but the thoracoscopic technique for diagnosis and treatment of thoracic tumors is well established. The term benign tumors can be a misnomer in that although their histology is not malignant, these tumors can be locally aggressive with significant associated morbidity and potential for mortality.