Mediastinoscopy for Mesothelioma
Posted on: January 24, 2024 *Updated on: May 27, 2024Mediastinoscopy is a camera-assisted surgical biopsy used for diagnosing and staging pleural mesothelioma, serving as an alternative to thoracotomy and thoracoscopy. Its primary application is when medical professionals suspect that mesothelioma tumors have spread to the lymph nodes between the lungs.
During this procedure, the mediastinum, the space between the lungs and behind the breastbone (sternum), is carefully examined. A slender, illuminated tube called a mediastinoscope, equipped with a camera, is inserted by doctors. The presence of tumors indicates an advanced stage of the disease, typically stage 3 or stage 4.
In addition to observation, doctors can extract tissue samples from the lymph nodes to definitively confirm the presence of mesothelioma cells.