[Endoscopic studies in determining the stage of lung cancer]

An associated simultaneous mediastino- and laparoscopy allows the detection of lung cancer metastases in lymph nodes of the anterior mediastinum and liver and thereby the precise determination of the tumor process stage. The procedure is tolerated by patients well. 100 examinations showed metastases in mediastinal lymph nodes in 27 cases, in the liver- in 7. No complications were noted. Metastases were most frequently found in patients with undifferentiated lung cancer. Hepatic scanning by means of radioactive gold was performed in 30 patients. Laparoscopic data correlated well with scannographic findings.