Cervical mediastinoscopy.

The continuity of cervicomediastinal fascial planes provides the anatomic basis for cervical mediastinoscopy and its derivatives. There are two such planes, both accessible through a single small neck incision: the retrovascular paratracheal plane (for standard cervical mediastinoscopy) and the prevascular retrosternal plane (the zone of extended mediastinal exploration). This article describes the evolution, technique, indications, applications, and complications of cervical mediastinoscopy in the diagnosis and therapy of thoracic diseases.