RESUMO
Objective: To analyze the outcome of mediastinal lypmh node biopsy by conventional mediastinoscopy for diagnostic purpose in patients with mediastinal lymph node enlargement
Study design: Descriptive case series
Place and Duration of study: The study was conducted at 2 private hospitals of Karachi, from July 2012 to June 2014
Methodology: Patients aged 12 year and above, of either sex, who presented with CT-proven mediastinal lymph node enlargement in whom diagnosis could not be confirmed via other investigations, were included. Patients underwent conventional mediastinoscopy under general anesthesia. Patients with previous history of thyroid or neck surgery, severe superior vena caval syndrome [SVC] or cervical spondylosis were excluded from the study. Multiple lymph node stations were biopsied and sent for histopathology. Biopsy reports were followed and results analyzed
Results: Out of 32 patients 19 were males and 13 females. Age range was from 25 to 55 year. The most common diagnosis was tuberculosis. The mean duration of the procedure was 40 minutes. Lymph node stations 2 and 4 were most commonly biopsied and an average of 4 biopsy samples were obtained per patient
Conclusion: Mediastinscopy is an invaluable and relatively cost effective procedure in the diagnosis of patients with mediastinal lymph node enlargement in whom the diagnosis could not be confirmed by other investigations