AIM: This study had two aims: to analyze surgical patients with mediastinal cysts and masses according to clinical, histopathological, and surgical types; and compare the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on these cases. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 132 patients who had undergone surgical intervention for mediastinal cysts and masses. Demographic, clinical, and histopathologic data were recorded. Patients were divided into two groups based on their preference for video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and other surgical methods. Patients who had undergone surgery during and before the COVID-19 pandemic were also compared. RESULTS: Lesions were detected incidentally in 56 patients (42.4%). The lesions were most commonly located in the anterior mediastinum (n = 86, 65.2%), while the most common pathology was found to be thymoma (n = 47, 35.6%). VATS was the most preferred method of operation (n = 36, 27.3%). The duration of hospital stay was observed to be statistically significantly shorter in patients who underwent VATS (p = 0.016). After the COVID-19 pandemic, the incidental incidence of mediastinal cysts and masses was significantly higher (p = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: The incidental detection rate of operated mediastinal cysts and masses increased after the COVID-19 pandemic. It is suggested that this study act a starting point for investigating the impact of the pandemic on mediastinal cysts and masses.