Mediastinoscopy in the investigation of primary mediastinal lymphadenopathy

Mediastinoscopy was introduced by Carlens (1) in 1959 to obtain lymph node biopsies from the superior mediastinum in patients with bronchogenic carcinoma. The technique has been widely accepted for clinical staging as a guide to operability and prognosis. We report on a consecutive retrospective series of 110 patients undergoing mediastinoscopy between 1982-1986 for primary mediastinal lymphadenopathy in order to assess the diagnostic value and safety of the procedure. Mediastinoscopy gave a positive histological diagnosis in 74.5% of cases with no false negative results. There were no deaths and one complication only (pneumothorax). This study shows mediastinoscopy to be a safe, accurate and cost effective procedure minimising hospital stay and allowing appropriate treatment to be immediately commenced upon diagnosis. Mediastinoscopy obviates the need for expensive computed tomography or nuclear magnetic resonance scans and we conclude that it is the investigation of choice for primary mediastinal lymphadenopathy after confirmation by plain chest radiography.