What is a Mediastinoscopy?

Transcript

Again, this central compartment of the chest is the mediastinum. So a mediastinoscopy is putting a scope into the mediastinum.

We do that by making a small incision at the base of the neck. The scope goes inside behind the breastbone in front of the airway. And with that scope, we’re able to visualize the actual lymph nodes.

Unlike the EBUS, we’re not looking at an ultrasound image. We’re actually looking with our eyes at the lymph node itself. A mediastinoscopy is more invasive. There’s an incision, there’s general anesthesia, but the advantage is that you’re able to get more tissue because you can actually see that those lymph nodes and take whole pieces out instead of aspirating cells.

Key Takeaways

1. The central compartment of the chest is the mediastinum – a mediastinoscopy is putting a scope into the mediastinum.

2. With that scope, we’re able to visualize the actual lymph nodes.

3. Unlike the EBUS, we’re not looking at an ultrasound image – we’re actually looking with our eyes at the lymph node itself.

4. A mediastinoscopy is more invasive, but the advantage is that you’re able to get more tissue because you can actually see those lymph nodes and take whole pieces out instead of aspirating cells.