title: [Lymphadenectomy in bronchial carcinoma: facts and fiction].
abstract: Removal of mediastinal lymph nodes is essential for the surgical staging of lung cancer; it is therefore integral part of a curative surgical treatment. The accuracy of mediastinal staging - "biopsy" sampling or complete removal of mediastinal lymph nodes - is of significance since the N-status affects treatment and survival. Anatomical and technical considerations lead to the conclusion: Because of the anatomy of the lymph system a complete removal of all draining lymph vessels is not possible. However, accurate mediastinal staging is clearly recommended over "biopsy"-sampling. Future studies should focus on an improved histologic evaluation and should take other "new" factors affecting prognosis into consideration.
authors.affiliation: Chirurgische Klinik und Poliklinik, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München.
authors.forename: F W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Schildberg
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dienemann
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D002283:Carcinoma, Bronchogenic / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate