Mediastinoscopy for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of undifferentiated mediastinal diseases / 中国微创外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the value of mediastinoscopy in the diagnosis of undifferentiated mediastinal diseases. Methods A total of 35 mediastinoscopies were performed for patients with undifferentiated mediastinal disease from November 1999 to February 2002 and suspicious tissues at peritracheal,retrosternal,subcarinal,or bilateral hilar areas were obtaiued for pathological examination. Results Thirty four of 35 patients with undetermined mediastinal diseases had definite pathologic diagnosis.The diagnosis accuracy was 97%(34/35).Of the 34 patients,18 were diagnosed as malignant accounting for 52.9%.Sixteen of the 34 were diagnosed as benign,accounting for 47.1%.The diagnostic consistency of preoperation and postoperation was 47.1%(16/34).The misdiagnosis of preoperation was 52.9%(18/34).In this series,the benigns were apt to lead to misdiagnosis.10 of 16 patients with benign disease were diagnoscd as initially malignancies,representing 62.5%.In the entire group one patient had complications (2.9%).Yet no perioperative death occurred. Conclusions Mediastinoscopy is a valuable procedure which helps mede a correct diagnosis of mediastinal diseases.Given its safety and usefulness It is suggested that mediastinoscopy should be used routinely in the diagnosis of undifferentiated mediastinal diseases.