[Clinical value of cervical mediastinoscopy in non-small cell lung cancer of stage I].

BACKGROUND &

OBJECTIVE

Whether to apply routine mediastinoscopy to non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) of stage I remains controversial. This study was to evaluate application of cervical mediastinoscopy in detecting mediastinal lymph nodes status of NSCLC of stage I.

METHODS

The cervical mediastinoscopy was performed in 31 patients with NSCLC of stage I prior to thoracotomy from Oct. 2000 to Feb. 2004. Mediastinoscopy-positive (stage N2) patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

RESULTS

Of the 31 patients, 2 had disease of stage N2, and 1 had disease of stage N3 (right scalenus lymph node metastasis); positive rate of mediastinosopy was 10% (3/31), sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of mediastinoscopy were 75%, 100%, and 97%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Mediastinoscopy might be a routine examination for patients with NSCLC of stage I.