title: Percutaneous fine-needle aspiration biopsy of the mediastinum.
abstract: Percutaneous needle aspiration biopsy of the mediastinum has become a safe and reliable diagnostic technique that can decrease the need for mediastinoscopy in a large number of cases. It is particularly useful in detecting metastatic carcinoma, but it can also be helpful in the diagnosis of a number of other mediastinal lesions including thymoma, lymphoma, and cysts. Experience with the procedure and good cytopathological interpretation are important to the success of the procedure.
mesh_terms: D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000295:instrumentation; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008476:Mediastinal Cyst / Q000473:pathology; D008477:Mediastinal Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D008482:Mediastinum / Q000473:pathology; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D012306:Risk; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed