The Role of Extended Cervical Mediastinoscopy in Staging of Non-small Cell Lung Cancer of the Left Lung and a Comparison with Integrated Positron Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography: Does Integrated Positron Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography Reduce the Need for Invasive Procedures?

Can We Offset Local Recurrence in Locally Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer? The Merry-Go-Round of Radiation Dose Escalation and Stubborn Outcomes

The Oncology Grand Rounds series is designed to place original reports published in the Journal into clinical context. A case presentation is followed by a description of diagnostic and management challenges, a review of the relevant literature, and a summary of the authors' suggested management approaches. The goal of this series is to help readers better understand how to apply the results of key studies, including those published in Journal of Clinical Oncology, to patients seen in their own clinical practice.

The effect of lymph node ratio on survival in non-small-cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of prognostic factors and lymph node ratio (LNR) on survival in patients with resected non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODS

Data from 421 patients with NSCLC who underwent complete resection between 2009 and 2015 were evaluated retrospectively. LNR was defined as the ratio of positive lymph nodes to the total number of lymph nodes removed. Associations between overall survival (OS) and LNR, node (N) status, and histopathologic status were evaluated.

RESULTS

The 5-year survival rate was 42.5% among all patients and 26.6% for patients aged 65 years or older. In the multivariate analysis, age ≥65 years, advanced-stage disease, non-squamous cell carcinomas, pN status, and having multiple-station pN2 and multiple-station pN1 disease were found to be poor prognostic factors (p < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in survival between patients with LNR (hazard ratio: 1.04, p = 0.45).

CONCLUSION

The results of our study indicate that pN stage, histopathologic type, pT stage, and geriatric age were the most important poor prognostic factors associated with survival after NSCLC resection. Although LNR is a factor associated with survival in gastrointestinal cancers, it did not impact survival in our study.

Prognostic index for estimating the survival benefit of postoperative radiotherapy in pathologic N2 non-small cell lung cancer: A real-world validation study

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) in patients with resected pathologic N2 (pN2) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with different locoregional recurrence (LRR) risks.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The primary cohort and validation cohort were retrieved from two independent medical centres. Data for all consecutive patients with completely resected pathologic stage T1-3N2M0 NSCLC were analysed. Patients without PORT in the primary cohort were identified as a training set. Significant prognostic factors for LRR were identified by the Fine-Gray model to develop a prognostic index (PI) in the training set.

RESULTS

The primary cohort consisted of 357 patients who met the eligibility criteria (training set, 287 patients without PORT). The external validation cohort consisted of 1044 patients who met the eligibility criteria (validation set, 711 patients without PORT). Heavy cigarette smoking history, clinical N2 status (cN2), and the number of positive lymph nodes >4 were identified as independent risk factors. The PI was computed as follows: PI＝0.8*smoking history＋0.5*cN2＋0.7*the number of involved lymph nodes (reference level was assigned the value 1 and risk level the value 2). In the low-risk group (PI score< = 3), PORT showed a trend towards decreased LRR rates but not significantly improved overall survival (OS). In the high-risk group (PI score>3), PORT significantly reduced the risk of LRR and improved OS.

CONCLUSIONS

We constructed and validated a PI to predict individually the effect of PORT in patients with completely resected pN2 NSCLC. Patients with a higher PI score can benefit from PORT in terms of OS.

Prognostic factors for survival in patients with completely resected pN2 non-small-cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND

This study examined the incidence of pathologic N2 (pN2) non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and prognostic factors affecting survival of these patients.

METHODS

A total of 119 patients who underwent surgery for NSCLC (lobectomy and pneumonectomy) between January 2008 and December 2016 were evaluated retrospectively. The patients with pN2 included in this study were assessed in two groups; single pN2 and multiple pN2.

RESULTS

The most common type of resection was lobectomy (56.3%). Ninety-four patients (79%) received adjuvant therapy. Eighty-six patients (72.3%) had single-station pN2 and 33 (27.7%) had multiple pN2. The 5-year survival rates were 29.3% overall, 38.6% in single-station pN2, and 11% in multiple-station pN2 (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.581, p = .037). There was no statistically significant difference in 5-year survival rates between patients with pN1N2 and those with pN0N2 involvement (39.1% vs. 37.1%) (p = .625). Not receiving adjuvant therapy was associated with poor survival prognosis (HR: 8.2 p < .001). The 5-year survival rate was 36.2% among patients with pN2 involvement with 2 or more positive lymph nodes and 19.5% among those with fewer than 2 positive lymph nodes (HR: 0.83, p = .463).

CONCLUSIONS

The most significant prognostic factors associated with survival were pN2 status. Non-skip metastases (pN1N2) and positive lymph node count were not associated with prognosis.

The prognostic impact of the mediastinal fat tissue invasion in patients with non-small cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND

The prognosis of the mediastinal fat tissue invasion in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients has not yet been clearly defined. The present study aimed to investigate the prognostic impact of the mediastinal fat tissue invasion in NSCLC patients.

METHOD

We analyzed 36 patients who were found mediastinal fat tissue invasion by pathological evaluation (mediastinal fat group) and 248 patients who were classified as T4-NSCLC according to the 8th TNM classification (T4 group; invasion of other mediastinal structures in 78 patients, ipsilateral different lobe satellite pulmonary nodule in 32 patients, and tumor diameter > 7 cm in 138 patients).

RESULT

Resection was regarded as complete (R0) in 255 patients (89.7%). Mediastinal fat group showed significantly higher incidence of incomplete resection (R1) and more left-sided tumors than the T4 group (p = 0.01, and p = 0.002, respectively). The survival was better in T4 group than mediastinal fat group (median 57 months versus 31 months), although it was not significant (p = 0.205). Even when only N0/1 or R0 patients were analyzed, the survival was not different between two groups (p = 0.420, and p = 0.418, respectively). 5-year survival rates for T4 subcategories (invasion of other structures, ipsilateral different lobe pulmonary nodule, and tumor diameter > 7 cm) were 39.4%, 41.9%, and 50.3%, respectively (p = 0.109). Multivariate analysis showed that age (p < 0.0001), nodal status (p = 0.0003), and complete resection (p < 0.0001) were independently influenced survival.

CONCLUSION

There is no significant difference in the prognosis between mediastinal fat tissue invasion and T4 disease in NSCLC patients.

Minimizing residual occult nodal metastasis in NSCLC: recent advances, current status and controversies

Introduction: Nodal involvement in lung cancer is a significant determinant of prognosis and treatment management. New evidence exists regarding the management of occult lymph node metastasis and residual disease in the fields of imaging, mediastinal staging, and operative management.Areas covered: This review summarizes the latest body of knowledge on the identification and management of occult lymph node metastasis in NSCLC. We focus on tumor-specific characteristics; imaging modalities; invasive mediastinal staging; and operative management including, technique, degree of resection, and lymph node examination.Expert opinion: Newly identified risk-factors associated with nodal metastasis including tumor histology, location, radiologic features, and metabolic activity are not included in professional societal guidelines due to the heterogeneity of their reporting and uncertainty on how to adopt them into practice. Imaging as a sole diagnostic method is limited. We recommend confirmation with invasive mediastinal staging. EBUS-FNA is the best initial method, but adoption has not been uniform. The diagnostic algorithm is less certain for re-staging of mediastinal nodes after neoadjuvant therapy. Mediastinal node sampling during lobectomy remains the gold-standard, but evidence supports the use of minimally invasive techniques. More study is warranted regarding sublobar resection. No consensus exists regarding lymph node examination, but new evidence supports reexamination of current quality metrics.

A Comparison of the Currently Used Nodal Stage Classification with the Number of Metastatic Lymph Nodes and the Number of Metastatic Lymph Node Stations for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer; Which of These Is the Best Prognostic Factor?

Objectives We aimed to compare the currently used nodal staging system (pN) with the number of metastatic lymph node (LN) stations (sN) and the number of metastatic LNs (nN) on survival in patients with NSCLC.

Methods Between 2010 and 2017, 1038 patients resected for NSCLC were analyzed. We performed three-different stratifications of LN status assessment: pN-category (pN0, pN1 and pN2); sN-category (sN0, sN1; one station metastasis, sN2; two-three stations metastases, and sN3; ≥ 4 stations metastasis); nN-category (nN0, nN1; one-three LNs metastasis, nN2; four-six Lns metastasis, and nN3; ≥ 7 LNs metastasis).

Results Five-year survival rate was 70.1% for N0 in all classifications. It was 54.3% for pN1, and 26.4% for pN2 (p < 0.0001). Five-year survival rates for N1, N2, and N3 categories were 54.1%, 42.4% and 16.1% according to sN, and 51.4%, 36.1%, and 7.9% according to nN, respectively (p < 0.0001). In multivariate analysis, sN and nN were independent risk factors such as pN (p < 0.0001). Hazard ratios versus N0 for N1, N2, and N3 were more significant for sN and nN than pN (1.597, 2.176, and, 3.883 for sN, 1.645, 2.658, and, 4.118 for nN, and 1.576, 3.222 for pN, respectively). When the subcategories of sN and nN were divided into pN1 and pN2 subgroups, the anatomic location of the LN involvement lost importance as tumor burden and tumor spreading increased.

Conclusion The number of metastatic LN stations and the number of metastatic LNs are better prognostic factors than currently used nodal classification in NSCLC.

Lung cancer staging: a concise update

Diagnosis and clinical staging of lung cancer are fundamental to planning therapy. The techniques for clinical staging, i.e anatomic and metabolic imaging, endoscopies and minimally invasive surgical procedures, should be performed sequentially and with an increasing degree of invasiveness. Intraoperative staging, assessing the magnitude of the primary tumour, the involved structures, and the loco-regional lymphatic spread by means of systematic nodal dissection, is essential in order to achieve a complete resection. In resected tumours, pathological staging, with the systematic study of the resected specimens, is the strongest prognostic indicator and is essential to make further decisions on therapy. In the present decade, the guidelines on lung cancer staging of the American College of Chest Physicians and the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons are based on the best available evidence and are widely followed. Recent advances in the classification of the adenocarcinoma of the lung, with the definition of adenocarcinoma in situ, minimally invasive adenocarcinoma and lepidic predominant adenocarcinoma, and the publication of the eighth edition of the tumour, node and metastasis classification of lung cancer, have to be integrated into the staging process. The present review complements the latest guidelines on lung cancer staging by providing an update of all these issues.

Transthoracic Biopsy Causes Massive Subcutaneous Emphysema in a Low Risk Patient

Subcutaneous Emphysema (SE) can be defined as air leakage under skin from the respiratory or gastrointestinal system. It is frequently accompanied by pneumomediastinum. Thoracentesis, image-guided lung biopsies, pulmonary diseases and therapies resulting in necrosis can cause this pathology. The risk of pneumothorax and SE increased with the distance of the lesion to the pleura, and small size of the lesion. Although, our patient had low risk for SE, there were minimal pneumothoraces and massive SE. We consider that tumour necrosis and subcutaneous tissue may be related via transthoracic biopsy and this leads to massive SE.

The incidence of hoarseness after mediastinoscopy and outcome of video-assisted versus conventional mediastinoscopy in lung cancer staging

Objectives Theoretically, video-assisted mediastinoscopy (VM) should provide a decrease in the incidence of hoarseness in comparison with conventional mediastinoscopy (CM). Methods An investigation of 448 patients with the NSCLC who underwent mediastinoscopy (n = 261 VM, n = 187 CM) between 2006 and 2010. Results With VM, the mean number of sampled LNs and of stations per case were both significantly higher (n = 7.91 ± 1.97 and n = 4.29 ± 0.81) than they were for CM (n = 6.65 ± 1.79 and n = 4.14 ± 0.84) (p < 0.001 and p = 0.06). Hoarseness was reported in 24 patients (5.4%) with VM procedures resulting in a higher incidence of hoarseness than did CM procedures (6.9% and 3.2%) (p = 0.08). The incidence of hoarseness was observed to be more frequent in patients with left-lung carcinoma who had undergone a mediastinoscopy (p = 0.03). Hoarseness developed in 6% of the patients sampled at station 4L, whereas this ratio was 0% in patients who were not sampled at 4L (p = 0.07). A multivariate analysis showed that the presence of a tumor in the left lung is the only independent risk factor indicating hoarseness (p = 0.09). The sensitivity, NPV, and accuracy of VM were calculated as to be 0.87, 0.95, and 0.96, respectively. The same staging values for CM were 0.83, 0.94, and 0.95, respectively. Conclusion VM, the presence of a tumor in the left-lung, and 4L sampling via mediastinoscopy are risk factors for subsequent hoarseness. Probably due to a wider area of dissection, VM can lead to more frequent hoarseness.

Evaluation of lymph node metastasis in lung cancer: who is the chief justice?

Accurate determination of the diagnosis and the stage of lung cancer play a critical role to ensure that patients are provided the optimal treatment. However, the process is usually beyond complex. Early studies have suggested lymph nodes (LNs) >1.0 cm in size on computed tomography (CT) are considered as metastatic nodes, while the sensitivity of this criterion is not satisfied. Subsequently, positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) was shown to be superior to CT alone on assessment of nodal involvement and was widely used to estimate suitability for resection with curative intent, but the dependability also remains controversial. Furthermore, transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) with and without endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS), as a well-accepted minimally invasive approach for LN biopsy, has been documented as an efficient tool in evaluation of CT and PET-CT negative LNs. Additionally, radiographic features including ground-glass/solid nodules ratio, referring as imaging biomarker, were indicated to be correlated with metastasis. Hence, we highlight the importance of comprehensive estimation of mediastinal and hilar LNs, and we suggested the judgment of LNs by radiographic tools alone might not be reliable and TBNA is indispensable in certain circumstances.

Surgical Treatment of Lung Cancer

In this chapter, we discuss the preoperative evaluation that is necessary prior to surgical resection, stage-specific surgical management of lung cancer, and the procedural steps as well as the indications to a variety of surgical approaches to lung resection.

Staging lymph node metastases from lung cancer in the mediastinum

BACKGROUND

The presence of tumor metastases in the mediastinum is one of the most important elements in determining the optimal treatment strategy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. This review is aimed at examining the current strategies for investigating lymph node metastases corresponding to an "N2" classification delineated by The International Staging Committee of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC).

METHODS

Extensive review of the existing scientific literature related to the investigation of mediastinal lymph node metastases was undertaken in order to summarize and report current best practices.

CONCLUSIONS

N2 disease is very heterogeneous requiring multiple modalities for thorough investigation. New research is now focusing on better identifying, defining, and classifying lymph node metastases in the mediastinum. Molecular staging and sub-classifying mediastinal lymph node metastases are being actively researched in order to provide better prognostic value and to optimize treatment strategies. Non-invasive imaging, such as PET/CT and minimally invasive techniques such as endobronchial and endoscopic ultrasound guided biopsy, are now the lead investigative methods in evaluating the mediastinum for metastatic presence.

Extended cervical mediastinoscopy

Surgical exploration of subaortic and para-aortic lymph nodes has traditionally required the combination of standard cervical mediastinoscopy and left anterior mediastinotomy. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery is another technique that allows the exploration of these nodal stations. Extended cervical mediastinoscopy is a useful and safe technique for the assessment of para-aortic and subaortic nodal stations through the same incision of the standard cervical mediastinoscopy.

Methods for staging non-small cell lung cancer: Diagnosis and management of lung cancer, 3rd ed: American College of Chest Physicians evidence-based clinical practice guidelines

BACKGROUND

Correctly staging lung cancer is important because the treatment options and prognosis differ significantly by stage. Several noninvasive imaging studies and invasive tests are available. Understanding the accuracy, advantages, and disadvantages of the available methods for staging non-small cell lung cancer is critical to decision-making.

METHODS

Test accuracies for the available staging studies were updated from the second iteration of the American College of Chest Physicians Lung Cancer Guidelines. Systematic searches of the MEDLINE database were performed up to June 2012 with the inclusion of selected meta-analyses, practice guidelines, and reviews. Study designs and results are summarized in evidence tables.

RESULTS

The sensitivity and specificity of CT scanning for identifying mediastinal lymph node metastasis were approximately 55% and 81%, respectively, confirming that CT scanning has limited ability either to rule in or exclude mediastinal metastasis. For PET scanning, estimates of sensitivity and specificity for identifying mediastinal metastasis were approximately 77% and 86%, respectively. These findings demonstrate that PET scanning is more accurate than CT scanning, but tissue biopsy is still required to confirm PET scan findings. The needle techniques endobronchial ultrasound-needle aspiration, endoscopic ultrasound-needle aspiration, and combined endobronchial ultrasound/endoscopic ultrasound-needle aspiration have sensitivities of approximately 89%, 89%, and 91%, respectively. In direct comparison with surgical staging, needle techniques have emerged as the best first diagnostic tools to obtain tissue. Based on randomized controlled trials, PET or PET-CT scanning is recommended for staging and to detect unsuspected metastatic disease and avoid noncurative resections.

CONCLUSIONS

Since the last iteration of the staging guidelines, PET scanning has assumed a more prominent role both in its use prior to surgery and when evaluating for metastatic disease. Minimally invasive needle techniques to stage the mediastinum have become increasingly accepted and are the tests of first choice to confirm mediastinal disease in accessible lymph node stations. If negative, these needle techniques should be followed by surgical biopsy. All abnormal scans should be confirmed by tissue biopsy (by whatever method is available) to ensure accurate staging. Evidence suggests that more complete staging improves patient outcomes.

Positron emission tomography-computed tomography in the management of lung cancer: An update

This communication presents an update on the current role of positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) in the various clinical decision-making steps in lung carcinoma. The modality has been reported to be useful in characterizing solitary pulmonary nodules, improving lung cancer staging, especially for the detection of nodal and metastatic site involvement, guiding therapy, monitoring treatment response, and predicting outcome in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). Its role has been more extensively evaluated in NSCLC than small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC). Limitations in FDG PET-CT are encountered in cases of tumor histotypes characterized by low glucose uptake (mucinous forms, bronchioalveolar carcinoma, neuroendocrine tumors), in the assessment of brain metastases (high physiologic 18F-FDG uptake in the brain) and in cases presenting with associated inflammation. The future potentials of newer PET tracers beyond FDG are enumerated. An evolving area is PET-guided assessment of targeted therapy (e.g., EGFR and EGFR tyrosine kinase overexpression) in tumors which have significant potential for drug development.

Diagnostic value of fluorine 18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography for the detection of metastases in non-small-cell lung cancer patients

In the recent years, fluorine 18 fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) has emerged as a new modality for staging non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. The aim of this meta-analysis was to assess the diagnostic value of (18)F-FDG PET/CT in detecting metastatic lesions in NSCLC patients. Meta-analysis methods were used to pool sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likehood ratios, diagnostic odd ratios and to construct a summary receiver-operating characteristic curve. Data from included studies were pooled to compare the diagnostic accuracy between PET/CT and PET or CT alone in nodal staging. Totally, 56 studies involving 8,699 patients met the inclusion criteria. The pooled sensitivities and specificities of (18)F-FDG PET/CT were 0.72 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.65-0.78] and 0.91 (95% CI: 0.86-0.94) in determining mediastinal nodal staging; 0.71 (95% CI: 0.60-0.80) and 0.83 (95% CI: 0.77-0.88) in intrathoracic staging; 0.78 (95% CI: 0.64-0.87) and 0.90 (95% CI: 0.84-0.94) in intrathoracic staging on a per-node basis. For detecting extrathoracic metastases, the pooled sensitivities and specificities of (18)F-FDG PET/CT were 0.77 (95% CI: 0.47-0.93) and 0.95 (95% CI: 0.92-0.97) for all extrathoracic metastases; 0.91 (95% CI: 0.80-0.97) and 0.98 (95% CI: 0.94-0.99) for bone metastases. (18)F-FDG PET/CT is beneficial in detecting lymph node metastases and extrathoracic metastases although PET/CT showed low sensitivity in detecting brain metastases. (18)F-FDG PET/CT confers significantly higher sensitivity and specificity than contrast-enhanced CT (both p < 0.01) and higher sensitivity than (18)F-FDG PET in staging NSCLC (p < 0.05).

Evaluation of integrated positron emission tomography and computed tomography accuracy in detecting lymph node metastasis in patients with adenocarcinoma vs squamous cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVES

The aim of our study was to analyze the specificity and sensitivity of integrated positron emission tomography and computed tomography (PET/CT) in detecting nodal metastasis according to histology (adenocarcinoma vs squamous cell carcinoma), and to identify the factors related to false-negative findings.

METHODS

A retrospective, single-institution review of 353 consecutive patients with suspected or pathologically proven, potentially resectable non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who had integrated PET/CT scanning at the same centre. Lymph node staging was pathologically confirmed on tissue specimens obtained at mediastinoscopy and/or thoracotomy. Statistical evaluation of PET/CT results was performed on a per-patient and per-nodal-station basis.

RESULTS

A total of 2286 nodal stations (1643 mediastinal, 333 hilar and 310 intrapulmonary) were evaluated. Adenocarcinoma was the final diagnosis in 244 patients and squamous carcinoma in 109 patients. Nodes were positive for malignancy in 80 (32.8%) of 244 patients with adenocarcinoma (N1 = 31; N2 = 48 and N3 = 1) and in 32 (29.3%) of 109 with squamous carcinoma (N1 = 21 and N2 = 11). PET/CT in the adenocarcinoma group had a sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of 53.8, 91.5 and 79.1%, and in the squamous cell group, of 87.5, 81.8 and 83.5%, respectively in a per-patient analysis. In the analysis for N2 disease on a per-patient basis, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 38.8, 97.4, and 85.7% for the adenocarcinoma group and 81.8, 91.8 and 90.8% in the squamous cell group. In the adenocarcinoma group, the mean diameter of false-negative lymph nodes was 7 mm (standard deviation [SD] ± 2.5 mm) compared with the diameter of true-positive lymph nodes of 12.5 (SD ± 4 mm; P < 0.00001). In the squamous cell group, the mean diameter of false-negative lymph nodes was 7.4 mm (SD ± 2.8 mm) compared with the diameter of true-positive lymph nodes of 14.7 (SD ± 6 mm; P < 0.005). In the adenocarcinoma group, false-negative lymph nodes were statistically correlated with the presence of vascular invasion and in the squamous cell group only with the maximum standardized uptake value (SUV(max)) < 5.4.

CONCLUSIONS

The sensitivity of PET/CT in detecting nodal metastasis in patients with adenocarcinoma is too low to avoid any further invasive staging procedure. Ultrasound-guided needle biopsy or mediastinoscopy is still necessary in staging patients undergoing lung resection for adenocarcinoma.

Endoscopic ultrasonography/fine-needle aspiration and endobronchial ultrasonography/fine-needle aspiration for lung cancer staging

This article reviews different techniques available for diagnosis and staging of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The advantages and disadvantages of each staging method are highlighted. The role of the gastroenterologist in NSCLC staging is explored. A new algorithm is proposed for the staging of NSCLC that incorporates endoscopic and endobronchial ultrasonography for mediastinal staging in patients with intrathoracic disease.

PET/CT in the staging of the non-small-cell lung cancer

Lung cancer is a common disease and the leading cause of cancer-related death in many countries. Precise staging of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer plays an important role in determining treatment strategy and prognosis. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT), combining anatomic information of CT and metabolic information of PET, is emerging as a potential diagnosis and staging test in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The purpose of this paper is to discuss the value of integrated PET/CT in the staging of the non-small-cell lung cancer and its health economics.

Invasive staging of mediastinal lymph nodes: mediastinoscopy and remediastinoscopy

Nodal status in lung cancer is essential for planning therapy and assessing prognosis. The involvement of ipsilateral and contralateral mediastinal lymph nodes is associated with poor prognosis and usually excludes patients from upfront surgical treatment. Mediastinoscopy is a time-honored procedure that allows the surgeon to access the upper mediastinal lymph nodes for either biopsy or removal. Remediastinoscopy is mainly indicated to assess objective tumor response in mediastinal lymph nodes after induction therapy for locally advanced lung cancer and to indicate further therapy.