title: The role of cervical mediastinoscopy in Nigerian thoracic surgical practice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cervical mediastinoscopy is the gold standard for obtaining histological diagnosis of mediastinal pathology. It has been used for the staging of lung cancer as well as to determine the cause of Isolated Mediastinal Lymphadenopathy. There is very limited evidence in the literature of its use in Nigeria to assess mediastinal pathology. The aim of this study was to describe our institutional experience with cervical mediastinoscopy.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was a retrospective analysis of 40 patients that underwent cervical mediastinoscopy in our institution between March 2007 and February 2013.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The indication for Cervical Mediastinoscopy was Isolated Mediastinal Lymphadenopathy in 24 patients (60%) and lung cancer staging in 16 patient (40%). The mean age of the patients was 52.7 + 15.1 years. There were 21 females (52.5%) and 19 males (47.5%). The most commonly biopsied lymph nodes were level 4 in 35 patients (87.5%) and level 7 in 21 patients (52.5%). Malignant diagnosis was made in 16 (66.7%) patients with Isolated Mediastinal Lymphadenopathy and in 13 (81.3%) patients staged for lung cancer. Hospital stay was less than 24 hours in all patients and there were no complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cervical Mediastinoscopy is available in Nigeria and has been performed in our institution with high diagnostic yield and no complications. Its increased use, along with the development of other mediastinal biopsy techniques is advocated to increase tissue biopsy of mediastinal pathology, especially for lung cancer and isolated mediastinal lymphadenopathy.
authors.affiliation: Cardiothoracic Division, Department of Surgery, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Bode
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Falase
authors.affiliation: Cardiothoracic Division, Department of Surgery, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Mgbajah
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ogadinma
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Adetinuwe
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Majekodunmi
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Lagos State University College of Medicine, University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Barakat
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nimasahun
authors.affiliation: Respiratory Unit, Department of Medicine, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Olufunke
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Adeyeye
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D000072281:Lymphadenopathy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008477:Mediastinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008481:Mediastinoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009549:Nigeria; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: Isolated Mediastinal Lymphadenopathy; Lung Cancer; Mediastinoscopy; Nigeria