title: Mediastinoscopy: not needed preoperatively in CT-negative lung carcinoma?
abstract: The objective was to investigate the necessity of mediastinoscopy in preoperative staging of lung carcinoma in 57 operable patients. Noninvasive radiology was compared to mediastinoscopy and thoracotomy. Computed tomography (CT-scan) and mediastinoscopy were in agreement in 40 cases (70%). CT-scan was negative in 26 patients, of which 4 were false negatives. Mediastinoscopy is therefore of no benefit preoperatively for 85% (22 out of 26) of patients. Consequently, we have changed our staging policy and only patients with positive CT-scan are now subjected to mediastinoscopy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diseases of the Chest, Turku University Central Hospital, Finland.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Liippo
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Puhakka
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Katevuo
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Reunanen
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vänttinen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002283:Carcinoma, Bronchogenic / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008481:Mediastinoscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011300:Preoperative Care; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed