[Mediastinoscopy in preoperative assessment of operability in patients with bronchial neoplasms (author's transl)].

The results and conclusions of the endoscopic exploration of mediastinum in 352 patients suffering from bronchogenic cancer are analysed. The importance of mediastinoscopy is emphasized especially in the assessment of operability. In the opinion of the authors the cancer is not operable, if metastases are found in the paratracheal and contralateral lymphnodes. Only in young men the extended resection should be done in individual cases if mediastinal lymphnode metastases are detected. Regarding these indications the rate of explorative thoracotomy could be reduced to 10%. The particular importance of preoperative examination of load capacity of the heart and circulatory system is stressed. Finally it is concluded, that an decisive improvement of the common prognosis of the bronchogenic cancer is only possible by an earlier detection and a more rapid introduction of therapy, but not by the extension of the surgical procedures. The enlargement of the surgical procedure should be decided individually. The great possibilities hencefollowing for the mass x-ray examinations are emphasized.