title: Remediastinoscopy after neoadjuvant therapy for non-small cell lung cancer.
abstract: Despite technical difficulties due to mediastinal fibrosis, remediastinoscopy can be a valuable tool in the restaging of non-small cell lung cancer after neoadjuvant therapy. The aim of our study was to evaluate the feasibility, sensitivity and accuracy of remediastinoscopy. From November 1994 to July 2001 we performed a remediastinoscopy in 27 patients after neoadjuvant therapy. Their age ranged from 35 to 80 years (mean 61.9+/-11.9). In all 27 patients it was possible to perform a remediastinoscopy without major technical difficulties and take biopsies of the lymph nodes that were initially invaded by tumour. Remediastinoscopy was positive in 11 patients (40.7%) and negative in 16 (59.3%). In the 11 patients with a positive remediastinoscopy a complete resection was not judged possible and therefore, an unnecessary thoracotomy was avoided. In four patients, remediastinoscopy turned out to be false negative. So, in our series, sensitivity was 73%, specificity 100% and accuracy 85%. The positive and negative predictive values were 100 and 75%, respectively. Previous mediastinoscopy is no contra-indication for a repeat one after neoadjuvant therapy. Although sensitivity and accuracy are lower than that of a first mediastinoscopy, remediastinoscopy is useful to select patients for surgical resection after induction therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, University Hospital of Antwerp, Wilrijkstraat 10, B-2650 Edegem, (Antwerp), Belgium. paul.van.schil@uza.be
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Van Schil
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van der Schoot
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Poniewierski
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pauwels
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Carp
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Germonpré
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: De Backer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008297:Male; D008481:Mediastinoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009367:Neoplasm Staging