title: The value of mediastinoscopy in the assessment of the operability of bronchial carcinoma respective five years survival after resection.
abstract: Of 740 mediastinoscopies carried out from january 1966 to january 1976, 581 were performed to assess the operability of a pulmonary carcinoma. Of these, 42% were positive and 58% were negative. The remaining 159 mediastinoscopies were performed as aids in the diagnosis of affections of the lungs and mediastinum. Of these, 63% were positive and 37% were negative. Patients with bronchial carcinoma and a negative mediastinoscopy were regarded as operable; patients with a positive mediastinoscopy were regarded as inoperable because of mediastinal metastases (Nohl, 1956; Reynders, 1964; Carlens, 1965). Nevertheless a small number of patients with a positive mediastinoscopy were operated during an initial period.
mesh_terms: D001984:Bronchial Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008481:Mediastinoscopy; D010166:Palliative Care; D013997:Time Factors