title: Crank-shaped sternotomy for upper mediastinal lymph node dissection in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer.
abstract: We describe our modification of the reversed T-shaped sternotomy. The conventional technique consists of a limited upper sternotomy with transverse division of the sternum. Our modification involves shifting the transverse division lines one costal space between the right and left sides for perfect apposition of the divided upper and lower sternum. This technique can be used for patients with thyroid cancer and mediastinal lymph node metastasis and for those with a mediastinal tumor or certain cardiac disorders.
authors.affiliation: Noguchi Thyroid Clinic and Hospital Foundation, 6-33 Noguchi-Nakamachi, Beppu, Oita 874-0932, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.forename: Toshihiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Masatsugu
authors.forename: Shinya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uchino
authors.forename: Shin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takamatsu
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Miyatake
authors.forename: Shiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Noguchi
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000379:methods*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008482:Mediastinum; D008875:Middle Aged; D013249:Sternum / Q000601:surgery*; D019616:Thoracic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*