title: Echo-endoscopic lymph node staging in lung cancer: an endoscopic alternative.
abstract: Surgical staging by mediastinoscopy has been considered the gold standard for staging the mediastinum in non-small-cell lung cancer; however, it is an invasive procedure which requires general anesthesia and is associated with significant risk. Endosonographic biopsy techniques are a minimally invasive alternative to surgical staging and may be even better than standard mediastinoscopy. Combined endosonographic procedures (EBUS/EUS) are safe, cost-effective, and superior to surgical mediastinal staging. It allows for the biopsy of lymph nodes and metastases that are unattainable with standard mediastinoscopy techniques thereby preventing futile thoracotomies. Combined endosonographic procedures (EBUS/EUS) are the new gold standard in mediastinal staging of non-small-cell lung cancer when performed by an experienced operator.
authors.affiliation: a Notre Dame Hospital, University of Montreal Health Center, Division of Thoracic Surgery, 1560 Sherbrooke Street East, 8e CD-Pavillon Lachapelle, D-8051, Montreal, Quebec, H2L 4M1, Canada.
authors.forename: Pravachan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hegde
authors.forename: Moishe
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liberman
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000473:pathology*; D019160:Endosonography / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008481:Mediastinoscopy / Q000379:methods; D009367:Neoplasm Staging
keywords: combined (EBUS - EUS); endobronchial ultrasound; endoscopic ultrasound; endosonographic lung cancer staging; lung cancer staging; lymph node stations; mediastinoscopy; non–small-cell lung cancer; station 6 lymph node biopsy; transvascular lymph node biopsy