Mediastinoscopy as a predictor of resectability in patients with bronchogenic carcinoma

Eighty consecutive mediastinoscopies, performed for assessment of patients with bronchogenic carcinoma, were reviewed with regard to accuracy and complications. Thirty patients had mediastinal lymph node metastases: 26 were considered inoperable and thus saved non-therapeutic thoracotomy, 4 were considered operable of whom 3 had a curative resection, and one was inoperable at thoracotomy. Of 50 patients with negative mediastinal nodes 43 had thoracotomy; 42 were resectable and one was unresectable. Seven did not have thoracotomy because of other contraindications. In total of 47 patients undergoing thoracotomy on the basis of mediastinoscopy, 45 were resectable, giving mediastinoscopy a positive predictive value for resectability of 95.7%. There was no mortality and two superficial wound infections occurred giving a morbidity of 2.5%. Mediastinoscopy is a safe, reliable and accurate predictor or resectability in patients with bronchogenic carcinoma and continues to have a major role in the management of these patients.