Patient Information - Mediastinoscopy

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT MEDIASTINOSCOPY

What is Mediastinoscopy?

Mediastinoscopy is a surgical procedure performed to biopsy(sample tissue for examination under microscope by pathologist to arrive at a diagnosis) glands in the centre of your chest . It is also referred to as 'Cervical Mediastinoscopy' as it is performed through a small (1.5in) incision(cut) in the front of your neck.

When is mediastinoscopy advised?

As writen above, this is only a diagnostic procedure. It is not a treatment. It was originally described to stage ( assess extent of spread of disease) lung cancers.If the biopsy from the glands removed by mediastinoscopy does not show cancer,then the cancer has not spread.

This procedure is now advised when your doctor has found enlarged glands in the chest ,usually spotted on X ray and confirmed on CT scans and is unsure of the nature of the enlarged galnds.

The glands may be affected by tumor(cancer),infections( eg.tuberculosis ) or disease of unknown cause(eg.sarcoidosis).

Only when a diagnosis is made,can any meaningful treatment be started.

In cases of resistant infections, especially MDRT (Multi Drug Resistant Tuberculosis) adequate sample is available to culture (grow these germs) and identify appropriate drugs to treat these resitant germs.

What does the procedure involve ?

The operation is done usually under general anaesthesia - with the patient fully asleep.
The procedure takes about 30 minutes. A small (1.5 in) cut is made in the front of the neck at a skin crease-so as to make an imperceptible scar. Following dissection by finger, a lighted scope is inserted to visualise the galnds and under vision, some tisse from the glands are removed and sent for biopsy.

What about recovery?

Following the operation, once fully awke you will be nursed in the recovery area and monitored for a few hours. Pain killers would be given for pain relief. After a few hours, you will be shifted to the ward.
A Chest Xray may be performed either in the recovery or later . The following morning, you will be seen by the surgeon prior to discharge.

What about the results ?

The sample of tissue needs to be processed before the pathologist can examine under the microscope.Hence, it takes about 5 days for the result to be available.

How safe is the procedure ?

In experienced hands, it is a safe procedure. Any operation in the chest comes with a small risk.
The risk in this procedure is less than 0.5%. It could be bleeding or injury to any major structures in the chest. However, when the procedure is performed under vision the risk can be kept very low. Also,the procedure is always performed in a fully equipped theatre with the backup facilities to tackle any situation.

Disclaimer: The text presented on these pages is for your information only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice. It may not represent your true individual medical situation. Do not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting a qualified healthcare provider. Please consult your healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns.