[Adhesion or organization during surgery due to mediastinoscopy before induction therapy for non-small cell lung...

We conducted a retrospective study to investigate amounts of adhesion or organization during surgery due to mediastinoscopy before induction therapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). A case series of 13 patients (c-stage IIIA in 11 and IIIB in 2) with right-side NSCLC who underwent induction therapy were assessed. They were between 39 and 71 years old and 8 males and 5 females. Induction therapy was chemotherapy alone in 4 cases and chemo-radiotherapy in 9 cases. The mediastinocopy was used in 4 cases. Mediastinal lymph node resection was incomplete in 3 of the 4 (75%) cases among the mediastinoscopy group but the no-mediastioscopy group had no incomplete resection (p = 0.01), though 2 of the 9 (22%) cases among the chemo-radiation group and 1 of the 4 (25%) among the chemo alone group (p > 0.9). Severe adhesion or organization can occur after the mediastinoscopy and induction therapy, which might be a course of incomplete mediastinal lymph node resection.