A 46-year-old man with early-stage lung cancer was listening to his surgeon describe the surgical plan in preparation for signing the informed consent.The surgeon described a procedure that would be done before the thoracoscopic lung surgery.The surgeon described an examination of the middle chest lymph nodes and the area below where the bronchi branch into the right and left lungs,and possibly taking biopsies of suspicious tissue.The procedure uses a hollow lighted tube with fiberoptic light-carrying fibers.Which diagnostic procedure will precede the patient's thoracoscopic lung surgery?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Mediastinoscopy is the direct visualization and possible biopsy of lymph nodes or tumors at the tracheobronchial junction,under the carina of the trachea,or on the upper lobe bronchi or subdivisions.Mediastinoscopy may precede an exploratory thoracotomy in known cases of lung carcinoma or may be completed to assist in accurately staging the patient's lymph node status.The mediastinoscope is a hollow tube with a fiberoptic light carrier.A fiberoptic light source with a light-intensity dial provides power and control of illumination.

A 46-Year-Old Man with Early-Stage Lung Cancer Was Listening to His