title: [Application of mediastinoscopy to diagnosis of mediastinal diseases and staging of lung cancer].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It is still very difficult to make a definite diagnosis for some mediastinal diseases through some examinations, such as CT scan and fibrobronchoscopy. To judge the metastasis of mediastinal lymph nodes exactly for lung cancer patients and make proper staging of lung cancer are important for defining therapeutic schedule and estimating prognosis. This study was to explore the application value and summarize the experience of mediastinoscopy in the diagnosis of mediastinal diseases and the staging of lung cancer with enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mediastinoscopy and biopsy were performed in 16 patients with different mediastinal diseases detected by imaging examinations and 14 lung cancer patients with enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes diagnosed by CT scan, PET, or fibrobronchoscopy. The staging of lung cancer was identified according to pathologic diagnosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 16 patients with different mediastinal diseases clarified by mediastinoscopy, 5 had nodule diseases, 3 had mediastinal lymph node tuberculosis, 2 had mediastinal lymphnoditis, 2 had lymphoma, 1 had extra-gastrointestinal type gastrointestinal malignant interstitialoma,1 had thymoma, 1 had metastatic small cell carcinoma, and 1 had metastatic adenocarcinoma. Of the 14 lung cancer patients with enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes, 6 had metastatic lymph nodes, and 8 had not; all of the 14 cases were accurately staged and received successful operations without severe postoperative complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mediastinoscopy is a safe, accurate and effective procedure for the diagnosis of mediastinal diseases and the staging of lung cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Union Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350001, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Chun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Pei-Qiu
authors.initials: PQ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Ruo-Bai
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Ming-Qiang
authors.initials: MQ
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Dao-Zhong
authors.initials: DZ
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008477:Mediastinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008481:Mediastinoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008482:Mediastinum / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D014388:Tuberculosis, Lymph Node / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult