One of the Thoracic Surgery Procedures: Mediastinoscopy

Objective: Mediastinoscopy is a surgical procedure, developed and implemented today only by thoracic surgeon, which can be easily applied, with low morbidity and mortality, for diagnosis and treatment of lung diseases.Material and Method: In this study, 21 patients who underwent diagnostic standard cervical mediastinoscopy at the 3rd Thoracic Surgery Service in Antalya State Hospital between August 2004 and December 2007 were examined retrospectively.Results: The final diagnosis was obtained in 19 of 21 cases (90%). The most commonly detected disease was sarcoidosis in 8 cases (38%). In six (29%) patients in whom N2 disease were detected, unnecessary thoracotomy was avoided. There was no morbidity or mortality.Conclusion: Mediastinoscopy is a surgical procedure with low morbidity and mortality can be done easily except in advanced centers, with the detection of benign lesions and N2 disease can be reduce the workload of these centers.