[Experience with mediastinoscopy (author's transl)]

Results of 330 mediastinoscopies are presented. Mediastinoscopy showed to be a safe and reliable method in the diagnosis of systemic lymphatic disorders. Mediastinoscopy was not performed as a routine method. Therefore it is difficult to evaluate its significance in the qualification for surgical treatment in the carcinoma of the lungs. Nevertheless the use of this method may spare unnecessary explorative thoracotomy in many patients. Possibilities of therapeutic use of mediastinoscopy are presented.