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Mediastinoscopy with biopsy |
| Definition: |
| The mediastinum is the space that separates the 2 lungs and contains the heart, thymus, esophagus, trachea, the large blood vessels, and lymph nodes. A mediastinoscopy is a procedure in which a lighted instrument (mediastinoscope) is inserted through a neck incision to visually examine the structures in the top of the chest cavity. Most commonly this procedure is used to examine lymph nodes in a patient with lung cancer, for disease staging purposes. A sample (biopsy) may be taken with the mediastinoscope.
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| How the test is performed: |
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This procedure is done in the hospital. You will be given a general anesthesia. An incision is made in the neck after an endotracheal tube has been inserted. The mediastinoscope is inserted through this incision into the mid-part of the chest. Tissue samples are taken, usually of the lymph nodes surrounding the airway. The scope is then withdrawn, and the incision is closed with stitches. |
| How to prepare for the test: |
| You must sign an informed consent form. You will not be able to have food or fluid 8 hours before the test. Infants and children: The physical and psychological preparation you can provide for this or any test or procedure depends on your child's age, interests, previous experiences, and level of trust. For specific information regarding how you can prepare your child, see the following topics as they correspond to your child's age:
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| How the test will feel: |
| You will be unconscious during the procedure. There will be some tenderness at the site of the incision afterward. You may have a sore throat after the test. |
| Why the test is performed: |
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This procedure is used in diagnosing a variety of diseases when other tests such as sputum cytology, lung scans, radiography, and bronchoscopic biopsies do not indicate a diagnosis. It is also used to assist in the staging of patients with lung cancer. |
| Normal Values: |
| There are no abnormal lymph node tissues. |
| What abnormal results mean: |
| Abnormal findings may indicate lung cancer, tuberculosis, the spread of disease from one body part to another, sarcoidosis (a disease that causes nodules, usually affecting the lungs, lymphoma (abnormalities in the lymph tissues), and Hodgkin's disease. |
| What the risks are: |
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There is a risk of puncture of the esophagus, trachea, or the blood vessels, which in some circumstances can lead to potentially fatal bleeding. |
Reviewed By: Allan S. Stewart, M.D., Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review Provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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