Papel actual de la videomediastinoscopía en el cáncer pulmonar / Current Role of Videomediastinoscopy in Lung Cancer

RESUMEN La exploración mediastinal comienza desde la época de Galeno. Su desarrollo se alcanzó en la segunda mitad del siglo XX, utilizada para el estudio de los ganglios y tumores mediastinales. En la actualidad su uso se ha ampliado no solo como diagnóstico, sino con fines terapéuticos, al lograr realizar resecciones pulmonares. El objetivo es realizar una revisión actualizada de la literatura, acerca del uso de la mediastinoscopia en el diagnóstico del cáncer pulmonar. Se realizó una revisión de la literatura médica donde se utilizaron las bases de datos Scopus, Medline y Cochrane bajo los criterios de sus revisores. Se emplearon las palabras claves en idioma español e inglés. El método de análisis y síntesis se usó para la interpretación de la bibliografía. Se revisaron 173 artículos, de los cuales, se escogieron 58, que cumplían con los criterios de selección, entre ellos, 6 meta análisis, 11 artículos de revisión y 41 artículos originales. La videomediastinoscopía constituye una herramienta válida para el diagnóstico, así como para el estadiamiento de enfermedades dentro y fuera de la cavidad torácica y mediastino. Por otra parte, permite el tratamiento de algunas enfermedades(AU)

ABSTRACT The mediastinal exploration begins from the time of Galen. Its development was reached in the second half of the 20th century, used for the study of lymph nodes and mediastinal tumors. At present its use has been expanded not only as a diagnosis, but also for therapeutic purposes, by achieving lung resections. The objective is to carry out an updated review of the literature on the use of mediastinoscopy in the diagnosis of lung cancer. A review of the medical literature was carried out where the Scopus, Medline and Cochrane databases were used under the criteria of their reviewers. The keywords in Spanish and English were used. The method of analysis and synthesis was used for the interpretation of the bibliography. 173 articles were reviewed, of which 58 were chosen, which met the selection criteria, including 6 meta-analyzes, 11 review articles, and 41 original articles. Videomediastinoscopy is a valid tool for diagnosis, as well as for the staging of diseases inside and outside the thoracic cavity and mediastinum. On the other hand, it allows the treatment of some diseases(AU)

Caracterización de los pacientes operados de tumores del mediastino / Surgical-evolutionary Characterization of Patients Operated on for Mediastinal Tumors

RESUMEN Introducción: Las neoplasias mediastinales son tumores poco frecuentes, pueden aparecer a cualquier edad, por lo general entre la tercera y quinta décadas y se descubren incidentalmente en una radiografía de tórax de rutina en pacientes asintomáticos. Objetivo: Caracterizar a los pacientes operados de tumores de mediastino según variables clínicas y quirúrgicas. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio observacional, descriptivo, de tipo serie de casos con una muestra de 37 pacientes ingresados y operados en el Servicio de Cirugía General del Hospital Provincial Docente "Saturnino Lora" de Santiago de Cuba, con diagnóstico de tumor mediastinal durante los años 2010 a 2017. Resultados: La esternotomía fue la vía de acceso más utilizada y se logró efectuar exéresis completa en 31 enfermos. Primaron las variedades histológicas malignas (54,1 por ciento); solo hubo cuatro complicaciones posoperatorias de relevancia y dos fallecidos. Conclusión: Predominaron los tumores malignos en los que se identificó una amplia gama de variedades histológicas, atribuibles a las características del órgano afectado. La selección de la vía de entrada al tórax, así como el procedimiento quirúrgico estuvo condicionados por el lugar y tamaño del tumor en el mediastino. Los resultados quirúrgicos fueron favorables, avalados por el bajo número de complicaciones y nivel de mortalidad en la serie(AU)

ABSTRACT Introduction: Mediastinal neoplasms are rare tumors that may appear at any age, generally between the third and fifth decades of life, and incidentally discovered by a routine chest radiograph performed on asymptomatic patients. Objective: To characterize the patients operated on for mediastinal tumors according to selected surgical and evolutionary variables. Methods: An observational, descriptive and case series study was carried out with a sample of 37 patients hospitalized and operated on in the general surgery service at Saturnino Lora Teaching Provincial Hospital in Santiago de Cuba, with a diagnosis of mediastinal tumor, and during the years 2010 to 2017. Results: Sternotomy was the most widely used access route and complete exeresis was achieved in 31 patients. Malignant histological varieties prevailed (54.1 percent). There were only four relevant postoperative complications and two deaths. Conclusion: Malignant tumors predominated with a wide range of histological varieties identified, attributable to the characteristics of the affected organ. Selection of the access route into the thorax and the surgical procedure were conditioned by location and size of the tumor in the mediastine. The surgical outcomes were favorable, supported by the low number of complications and the level of mortality in the series(AU)

EBUS-TBNA versus surgical mediastinoscopy for mediastinal lymph node staging in potentially operable non-small cell lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis / EBUS-TBNA versus mediastinoscopia cirúrgica no estadiamento linfonodal mediastinal do câncer de pulmão de células não pequenas potencialmente operável: revisão sistemática e meta-análise

ABSTRACT Objective: Lung cancer (LC) is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Accurate mediastinal staging is mandatory in order to assess prognosis and to select patients for surgical treatment. EBUS-TBNA is a minimally invasive procedure that allows sampling of mediastinal lymph nodes (LNs). Some studies have suggested that EBUS-TBNA is preferable to surgical mediastinoscopy for mediastinal staging of LC. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to compare EBUS-TBNA and mediastinoscopy in terms of their effectiveness for mediastinal LN staging in potentially operable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: This was a systematic review and meta-analysis, in which we searched various databases. We included studies comparing the accuracy of EBUS-TBNA with that of mediastinoscopy for mediastinal LN staging in patients with NSCLC. In the meta-analysis, we calculated sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratios, and negative likelihood ratios. We also analyzed the risk difference for the reported complications associated with each procedure. Results: The search identified 4,201 articles, 5 of which (with a combined total of 532 patients) were selected for inclusion in the meta-analysis. There were no statistically significant differences between EBUS-TBNA and mediastinoscopy in terms of the sensitivity (81% vs. 75%), specificity (100% for both), positive likelihood ratio (101.03 vs. 95.70), or negative likelihood ratio (0.21 vs. 0.23). The area under the summary ROC curve was 0.9881 and 0.9895 for EBUS-TBNA and mediastinoscopy, respectively. Although the number of complications was higher for mediastinoscopy, the difference was not significant (risk difference: −0.03; 95% CI: −0.07 to 0.01; I2 = 76%). Conclusions: EBUS-TBNA and mediastinoscopy produced similar results for mediastinal staging of NSCLC. EBUS-TBNA can be the procedure of first choice for LN staging in patients with NSCLC.

RESUMO Objetivo: O câncer de pulmão (CP) é uma das principais causas de morte no mundo. Um estadiamento mediastinal preciso é obrigatório para avaliação do prognóstico e seleção de pacientes para tratamento cirúrgico. EBUS-TBNA é um procedimento minimamente invasivo que permite a amostragem de linfonodos mediastinais. Alguns estudos sugerem que a EBUS-TBNA é preferível que a mediastinoscopia cirúrgica no estadiamento mediastinal do CP. O objetivo desta revisão sistemática e meta-análise foi comparar a eficácia da EBUS-TBNA e da mediastinoscopia no estadiamento linfonodal mediastinal do câncer de pulmão de células não pequenas (CPCNP) potencialmente operável. Métodos: Foram pesquisados diversos bancos de dados. Estudos comparando a precisão da EBUS-TBNA e da mediastinoscopia no estadiamento linfonodal mediastinal em pacientes com CPCNP foram incluídos. Na meta-análise, foram calculadas sensibilidade e especificidade, bem como razões de verossimilhança positiva e negativa. A diferença de risco de complicações relatadas para cada procedimento também foi analisada. Resultados: A pesquisa identificou 4.201 artigos, dos quais 5 foram selecionados para a meta-análise (total combinado de 532 pacientes). Não houve diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre EBUS-TBNA e mediastinoscopia: sensibilidade (81% vs. 75%), especificidade (100% para ambas), razão de verossimilhança positiva (101,03 vs. 95,70) e razão de verossimilhança negativa (0,21 vs. 0,23). A área sob a curva summary ROC para EBUS-TBNA e para mediastinoscopia foi de 0,9881 e 0,9895, respectivamente. Embora o número de complicações tenha sido maior para mediastinoscopia, não foi encontrada diferença significativa (diferença de risco: −0,03; IC95%: −0,07 to 0,01; I2 = 76%). Conclusões: EBUS-TBNA e mediastinoscopia apresentaram resultados semelhantes no estadiamento mediastinal do CPCNP. EBUS-TBNA pode ser o procedimento de primeira escolha no estadiamento linfonodal em pacientes com CPCNP.

Cervical mediastinoscopy: Re-evaluation of an old technique in era of new imaging technology.

Context. With the advent of modern anatomical and functional imaging technologies, application of cervical mediastinoscopy has decreased in diagnosis and staging of mediastinal diseases. Aim. To evaluate the usefulness of cervical mediastinoscopy in assessing the mediastinal disease when imaging modalities are non-diagnostic. Settings and Design. Retrospective analysis of records of a tertiary care hospital. Patients and Methods. Thirty-nine patients with mediastinal pathology of varied aetiologies underwent cervical mediastinoscopy. Pre- and post-operative diagnosis was compared. Results. In 34 out of 39 cases (87.5%), cervical mediastinoscopy provided a confirmatory final diagnosis. One case had a major complication in the form of recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy. Conclusion. Cervical mediastinoscopy is useful, minimally invasive modality in a scenario where anatomical and functional imaging tools are non-diagnostic.

Utilização conjunta de mediastinoscopia cervical e videotoracoscopia para a avaliação linfática mediastinal em pacientes com carcinoma de pulmão não-pequenas células / Joint use of cervical mediastinoscopy and video-assisted thoracoscopy for the evaluation of mediastinal lymph nodes in patients with non-small cell lung cancer

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a eficácia da utilização conjunta de mediastinoscopia cervical e videotoracoscopia para a amostragem linfonodal mediastinal em pacientes com câncer de pulmão não-pequenas células (CPNPC) candidatos à ressecção pulmonar. MÉTODOS: Uma amostra de 62 pacientes com diagnóstico de CPNPC foi submetida à mediastinoscopia cervical e à videotoracoscopia. As amostras obtidas (das cadeias paratraqueais, cadeia subcarinal anterior e posterior, cadeias paraesofágicas e ligamento pulmonar) foram submetidas a exame de congelação. Foram também avaliadas as seguintes variáveis: idade, sexo, perda ponderal, método diagnóstico, achados tomográficos, tipo histológico, estadiamento, localização e tamanho do tumor primário. RESULTADOS: Em 11 pacientes, a mediastinoscopia não apresentou comprometimento da cadeia subcarinal, enquanto esse envolvimento foi detectado na videotoracoscopia: valor preditivo positivo = 88,89 por cento (IC95 por cento: 51,75-99,72); valor preditivo negativo = 94,34 por cento (IC95 por cento: 84,34-98,82); prevalência = 17,74 por cento (IC95 por cento: 9,2-29,53); sensibilidade = 72,73 por cento (IC95 por cento: 39,03-93,98); e especificidade = 98,77 por cento (IC95 por cento: 93,31-99,97). Em 60 por cento dos pacientes com comprometimento da porção posterior da cadeia subcarinal, o tumor primário estava no lobo inferior direito (p = 0,029). CONCLUSÕES: A utilização conjunta da mediastinoscopia cervical e videotoracoscopia para avaliação linfática mediastinal posterior se mostrou um método eficaz. Quando o acesso às cadeias posteriores não for possível através de ultrassom com biópsia transbrônquica ou transesofágica, que prescinde de anestesia geral, esse deve ser o método de escolha para a correta avaliação linfática mediastinal em pacientes com CPNPC.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of the joint use of cervical mediastinoscopy and video-assisted thoracoscopy for the sampling of mediastinal lymph nodes in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and candidates for pulmonary resection. METHODS: Sixty-two patients diagnosed with NSCLC were submitted to cervical mediastinoscopy and video-assisted thoracoscopy. The samples obtained (from paratracheal chains, anterior and posterior subcarinal chains, paraesophageal chains and pulmonary ligament) were submitted to frozen section analysis. The following variables were also evaluated: age; gender; weight loss; diagnostic method; tomographic findings; histological type; staging; and location and size of the primary tumor. RESULTS: In 11 patients, mediastinoscopy showed no involvement of the subcarinal chain, whereas such involvement was identified when video-assisted thoracoscopy was used: positive predictive value = 88.89 percent (95 percent CI: 51.75-99.72); negative predictive value = 94.34 percent (95 percent CI: 84.34-98.82); prevalence = 17.74 percent (95 percent CI: 9.2-29.53); sensitivity = 72.73 percent (95 percent CI: 39.03-93.98); and specificity = 98.77 percent (95 percent CI: 93.31-99.97). In 60 percent of the patients with involvement of the posterior subcarinal chain, the primary tumor was in the right inferior lobe. (p = 0.029) CONCLUSIONS: The joint use of cervical mediastinoscopy and video-assisted thoracoscopy for the evaluation of posterior mediastinal lymph nodes proved to be an efficacious method. When there is no access to posterior chains by means of ultrasound with transbronchial or transesophageal biopsy, which dispenses with general anesthesia, this should be the method of choice for the correct evaluation of mediastinal lymph nodes in patients with NSCLC.

Mediastinite fibrosante: relato de caso / Fibrosing mediastinitis: a case report

Neste trabalho é relatado o caso de uma mulher de 51 anos de idade, com dor torácica, dispneia e engurgitamento de vasos do tórax superior, sem evidências clínicas de doença granulomatosa. O estudo por imagem do tórax revelou massa mediastinal com calcificações, abordada por mediastinoscopia com biópsia. A análise histopatológica mostrou padrão inflamatório crônico sem etiologia definida, compatível com mediastinite fibrosante.

The present study reports the case of a 51-year-old woman with chest pain, dyspnea and upper chest vessels engorgement, with no clinical evidence of granulomatous disease. Chest imaging study revealed a mediastinal mass with calcifications that was approached by mediastinoscopy with biopsy. Histopathological study demonstrated an etiologically undefined chronic inflammatory pattern compatible with fibrosing mediastinitis.

Characteristics associated with complete surgical resection of primary malignant mediastinal tumors / Características associadas à ressecção cirúrgica completa de tumores malignos primários do mediastino

OBJECTIVE: To identify preoperative characteristics associated with complete surgical resection of primary malignant mediastinal tumors. METHODS: Between 1996 and 2006, 42 patients with primary malignant mediastinal tumors were submitted to surgery with curative intent at a single facility. Patient charts were reviewed in order to collect data related to demographics, clinical manifestation, characteristics of mediastinal tumors and imaging aspects of invasiveness. RESULTS: The surgical resection was considered complete in 69.1 percent of the patients. Cases of incomplete resection were attributed to invasion of the following structures: large blood vessels (4 cases); the superior vena cava (3 cases); the heart (2 cases); the lung and chest wall (3cases); and the trachea (1 case). Overall survival was significantly better among the patients submitted to complete surgical resection than among those submitted to incomplete resection. The frequency of incomplete resection was significantly higher in cases in which the tumor had invaded organs other than the lung (as identified through imaging studies) than in those in which it was restricted to the lung (47.6 percent vs. 14.3 percent; p = 0.04). None of the other preoperative characteristics analyzed were found to be associated with complete resection. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative radiological evidence of invasion of organs other than the lung is associated with the incomplete surgical resection of primary malignant mediastinal tumors.

OBJETIVO: Identificar características pré-operatórias associadas à ressecção cirúrgica completa de tumores malignos primários do mediastino. MÉTODOS: Entre os anos de 1996 e 2006, 42 pacientes com tumores malignos primários do mediastino foram submetidos a tratamento cirúrgico com intenção curativa em uma única instituição. Dados demográficos, manifestações clínicas, características do tumor mediastinal e aspectos de invasão por métodos de imagem foram identificados através da análise de prontuários. RESULTADOS: A ressecção cirúrgica foi considerada completa em 69,1 por cento dos pacientes. As causas de ressecção incompleta foram atribuídas à invasão das seguintes estruturas: grandes vasos (4 casos); veia cava superior (3 casos); coração (2 casos); pulmão e parede torácica (3 casos); e traqueia (1 caso). Os pacientes que foram submetidos à ressecção cirúrgica completa tiveram sobrevida global significativamente melhor que os pacientes submetidos à ressecção incompleta. A frequência de ressecção incompleta foi significativamente maior nos casos nos quais foram identificadas características radiológicas de invasão de outros órgãos além do pulmão do que nos casos cujas características eram restritas ao pulmão (47,6 por cento vs. 14,3 por cento; p = 0,04). Nenhuma das outras características pré-operatórias analisadas foi associada com a ressecção cirúrgica completa. CONCLUSÕES: Evidências radiológicas de invasão de órgãos além do pulmão no pré-operatório estão associadas à ressecção cirúrgica incompleta de tumores primários malignos do mediastino.

Comparação entre tomografia computadorizada e mediastinoscopia na avaliação do envolvimento ganglionar mediastínico no carcinoma brônquico não de pequenas células / Comparison between computed tomography and mediastinoscopy in the assessment of mediastinal nodal involvement in non-small cell bronchial carcinoma

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o rendimento da tomografia computadorizada torácica, em relação à mediastinoscopia, na detecção de metástases ganglionares mediastinais em pacientes portadores de carcinoma brônquico analisando o rendimento dessa e identificando as regiões mais problemáticas. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Analisamos 195 pacientes portadores de carcinoma brônquico, buscando-se comparar os achados entre tomografia computadorizada torácica e mediastinoscopia com biópsia. RESULTADOS: Em relação às metástases nodais mediastinais, 33,9 por cento tinham doença metastática ganglionar peribrônquica e/ou hilar ipsilateral, 46,1 por cento possuíam metástases mediastinais ipsilaterais e/ou subcarinais e 20 por cento apresentavam doença metastática mediastinal e/ou hilar contralateral, escalênica ou supraclavicular. As regiões com melhores valores de sensibilidade foram traqueobrônquica direita, paratraqueal direita alta e paratraqueal esquerda alta. As regiões nodais com melhores resultados de especificidade foram paratraqueal esquerda alta, paratraqueal direita alta e regiões traqueobrônquicas. CONCLUSÃO: A tomografia computadorizada torácica mostrou-se importante ferramenta diagnóstica na detecção de anormalidades em gânglios mediastinais; entretanto, a natureza neoplásica desses gânglios deve ser conferida por mediastinoscopia, ou até mesmo por toracotomia, a fim de que a correta decisão quanto ao tratamento possa ser tomada.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the yielding of chest computed tomography in comparison with mediastinoscopy for detection of mediastinal nodal metastases in patients with bronchial carcinoma, and identifying the most problematic regions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We have analyzed 195 patients with bronchial carcinoma, comparing the findings of chest computed tomography and mediastinoscopy with biopsy. RESULTS: As regards mediastinal nodal metastasis, 33.9 percent of patients presented peribronchial and/or ipsilateral hilar nodal metastases, 46.1 percent ipsilateral and/or subcarinal mediastinal metastases, and 20 percent contralateral mediastinal and/or hilar, scalenic or supraclavicular metastatic disease. Higher sensitivity values were found in the following regions: right tracheobronchial, right upper paratracheal, and left upper paratracheal. Higher specificity values were found in the following nodal regions: left upper paratracheal, right upper paratracheal and tracheobronchial. CONCLUSION: Chest computed tomography has shown to be an important diagnostic tool for detection of mediastinal lymph nodes abnormalities. However, the neoplastic nature of such mediastinal nodes should be confirmed by means of mediastinoscopy or even thoracotomy, aiming at making the correct decision regarding the treatment of patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Mediastinotomía anterior y mediastinoscopia cervical en el diagnóstico de las lesiones tumorales mediastinales / Anterior mediastinotomy and cervical mediastinoscopy in the diagnosis of mediastinal tumoral lesions

Para establecer el diagnóstico histológico y el tratamiento a emplear en los tumores mediastinales se necesita frecuentemente del acceso quirúrgico. Objetivo: Determinar el valor de la mediastinoscopia cervical y la mediastinotomía anterior en el diagnóstico de lesiones tumorales del mediastino. Métodos: Se presentan 32 pacientes con lesiones mediastinales expansivas, tratados entre enero de 2002 y junio de 2004 y a quienes se realizó una exploración mediastinal para obtener muestra tisular para biopsia. La intervención se consideró útil cuando la muestra fue suficiente para el estudio histológico. Resultados: Se realizaron 38 exploraciones del mediastino con fines diagnósticos, en las que se encontró predominio absoluto de los linfomas (75 por ciento). En 26 pacientes (81,2 por ciento) se obtuvo el diagnóstico en la primera exploración y en 6 (18,8 por ciento) hubo que practicar una segunda exploración que, en 3 casos, consistió en una segunda mediastinotomía anterior, así como esternotomía media, nueva mediastinoscopia cervical y videotoracoscopia, un paciente cada una, para alcanzar el diagnóstico en el 100 por ciento). La principal causa de especimenes no útiles para diagnóstico fue la muestra insuficiente. Se produjo lesión de vena mamaria interna en 3 ocasiones y neumotórax en 1 caso. La complicación posoperatoria que se encontramos fue la sepsis superficial de la herida en 2 casos. No hubo muertes relacionadas con el proceder. Conclusiones: La exploración mediastinal (mediastinoscopia cervical y mediastinotomía anterior) resulta efectiva cuando se necesita establecer, con morbilidad mínima y sin mortalidad,el diagnóstico histológico de lesiones expansivas mediastinales, sobre todo ante la sospecha de linfoma(AU)

In order to establish the histological diagnosis and the treatment to be applied in the mediastinal tumors, the surgical access is frequently needed. Objective: to determine the value of the cervical mediastinoscopy and the anterior mediastinotomy in the diagnosis of tumoral lesions of the mediastinum. Methods: 32 patients with expansive mediastinal lesions who underwent a mediastinal exploration to obtain tissular sample for biopsy and were treated from January 2002 to June 2004, were presented. The procedure was considered useful when the sample was enough for the histological study. Results: 38 explorations of the mediastinum were carried out with diagnostic ends. An absolute predominance of lymphomas (75 percent) was found. In 26 patients (81.2 percent) the diagnosis was obtained during the first exploration, whereas in 6 (18.8 percent), it was necessary to conduct a second exploration that in 3 cases consisted in a second anterior mediastinotomy, as well as a mean sternotomy , new cervical mediastinoscopy and video-assisted thoracoscopy to have a diagnosis in 100 percent of the cases. A lesion of the internal mammary vein was produced in 3 occasions and pneumothorax in one. The superficial sepsis of the wound was the postoperative complication observed in 2 cases. There were no deaths related to the procedure. Conclusions: the mediastinal exploration (cervical mediastinoscopy and anterior mediastionotomy) is effective when it is necessary to establish with a minimum morbidity and without mortality, the histological diagnosis of mediastinal expansive lesions, mainly before the suspicion of lymphoma(AU)

diagnostic role of mediastinoscopy in isolated mediastinal tuberculous lymphadenopathy

Isolated mediastinal tuberculous lymphadenopathy without a pulmonary parenchymal lesion is still a diagnostic challenge. The diagnostic yield of noninvasive methods is low in these cases. From July 1995 to June 2002, 39 patients with suspected isolated mediastinal tuberculous lymphadenopathy without any demonstrable pulmonary parenchymal lesion and with negative diagnostic noninvasive methods underwent mediastinoscopy as a final diagnostic step for diagnosis. These cases where reviewed retrospectively. The mean age was 36.3 years [range, 9 to 64 years] and 24 were male. The most common symptom was cough in 32 patients and 7 were asymptomatic. In all cases chest x-ray [CXR] and computed tomography [CT] chest showed isolated mediastinal lymphadenopathy with Involvement of the right paratracheal nodal group in 33 cases. In 27 patients [group 1], Multiple biopsies of 2 to 4 mediastinal nodal groups diagnosed tuberculous lymphadenitis in all patients; in 4 of them nonspecific inflammatory nodes were also sampled. The diagnostic yield [sensitivity] in group 1 was 100%. In 12 patients [group 2] who had biopsies of one mediastinal nodal group, the diagnosis could not be established in 3 patients and the diagnostic yield was 75%. In both groups the diagnostic yield of mediastinoscopy was 92%. It was concluded that when used effectively, mediastinoscopy was acceptable as a final diagnostic step in patients with suspected isolated mediastinal tuberculous lymphadenopathy without a pulmonary parenchymal lesion because of its high diagnostic yield

Mediastinoscopia contra tomografía axial computadorizada en la estadificación del carcinoma pulmonar de células no pequeñas / Mediastinoscopy versus computarized tomography in the staging of non-small cell lung carcinoma

La mediastinoscopia constituye un medio diagnóstico útil en la estadificación del cáncer del pulmón, y es también utilizada para este fin la tomografía axial computadorizada (TAC), por lo que fue el propósito de este trabajo realizar un estudio que permitiera conocer la eficacia diagnóstica de ambas y compararlas entre sí. Se estudiaron 51 pacientes con diagnóstico de cáncer de pulmón de células no pequeñas. A todos se les realizó TAC y mediastinoscopia, como parte del estudio preoperatorio. La eficacia diagnóstica se determinó analizando la sensibilidad, la especificidad y los valores predictivos positivo y negativo de ambas técnicas. Para la mediastinoscopia la sensibilidad fue de 68,4 (por ciento), la especificidad y el valor predictivo positivo dieron valores de 100 (por ciento) y el valor predictivo negativo de 84,6 (por ciento), con una certeza diagnóstica de 88,5 (por ciento). Los resultados para la TAC mostraron valores significativamente inferiores para los mismos parámetros: sensibilidad y valor predictivo positivo de 27,7 (por ciento) y especificidad y valor predictivo negativo de 60,6 (por ciento), con una certeza diagnóstica de 49,0 (por ciento). En conclusión la mediastinoscopia resultó superior a la TAC en la detección de la enfermedad metastásica mediastinal cuando estuvo presente, lo que expresa su sensibilidad, además de que es capaz de predecir con mayor exactitud cuando el enfermo en realidad no tiene la toma linfática mediastinal(AU)

As mediastinoscopy is a useful diagnostic tool in lung cancer staging and computed axial tomography (CAT) is also used to this end, a study was conducted to know the diagnostic efficiency of both and to compare them. 51 patients with diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer were studied. All of them underwent CAT and mediastinoscopy as part of the preoperative study. The diagnostic efficiency was determined by analyzing sensitivity and specificity and the positive and negative predictive values of both techniques. In the mediastinoscopy, sensitivity was 68.4 percent; specificity and the positive predictive value, 100 percent; negative predictive value, 84.6 percent; and diagnostic certainty, 88.5 percent(AU)

Role of mediastinoscopy, mediastinotomy and scalene lymph node biopsy in staging bronchogenic carcinoma

Bronchogenic carcinoma [BC] is the most common tumor of the lung and causes over one third of all cancer deaths in male. The aim of this study was to evaluate the different invasive techniques in staging patients with BC. Thirty-four patients with BC without any clinical manifestations of metastasis were studied. Nine patients had performed scalene lymph node biopsy, 13 patients had performed mediastinotomy and 12 patients had performed mediastinoscopy. The positive results were 11.1%, 30.8% and 41.7%, respectively. It was concluded that these invasive techniques are safe procedures for the assessment patients with BC