Superiority of video-assisted to standard mediastinoscopy in non-small-cell lung cancer staging

Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2012 Dec;60(8):541-4. doi: 10.1055/s-0031-1299577. Epub 2012 Mar 12.

Abstract

Background: We compared the efficiency of videomediastinoscopy (VM) and standard mediastinoscopy (SM) in detecting mediastinal lymph node (MLN) metastasis in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.

Methods: By SM method a surgeon sampled bilateral paratracheal and subcarinal lymph node stations and then by VM method, another surgeon resampled all lymph node stations once more through the same incision in the same operative setting. Results of the pathologic examinations of two methods were compared.

Results: Twenty-seven consecutive mediastinoscopies were included. The numbers of nodal stations biopsied in SM and VM were 97 and 103, respectively. Lymph node metastasis was found in six patients with SM and nine patients with VM. Lymph node dissection by thoracotomy revealed metastases, which were not found by mediastinoscopy, in two patients. Our study showed an accuracy of 92.3% for VM versus 80.7% for SM and corresponding negative predictive values of 88.2% and 75%, respectively (p = 0.002; Fig. 1).

Conclusion: This study showed that VM is superior to SM in detecting MLN metastasis in patients with NSCLC.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / pathology*
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / surgery
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Lung Neoplasms / surgery
  • Lymph Node Excision / methods*
  • Lymph Nodes / pathology*
  • Lymph Nodes / surgery
  • Lymphatic Metastasis
  • Male
  • Mediastinoscopy / methods*
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Staging / methods*
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Prognosis
  • Prospective Studies
  • Video-Assisted Surgery*