The reliability of mediastinoscopic frozen sections in deciding on oncological surgery in bronchogenic carcinoma.

Introduction: This study was carried out to determine the accuracy of mediastinoscopic frozen section examination, performed prior to major surgery-especially where mediastinal lymph node metastasis (N2 disease) was suspected. We aimed to find out whether or not mediastinoscopic frozen section analysis was (i) a reliable tool when deciding to continue resection in lung cancer patients and (ii) reliable in diagnosing mediastinal masses.

Methods: One-hundred and thirty-six patients undergoing mediastinoscopy were enrolled in this study. Resection was planned for each case, and biopsies were taken from at least two sites, including the subcarinal lymph node. Thoracotomy and resection were performed when the results of frozen section examination were negative for malignancy in patients with lung cancer. Results of frozen section examination during mediastinoscopy were compared to the results of definitive histological examination of the same specimens stained using haematoxylin-eosin. Additionally, the results of frozen section examination were compared to the results of definitive histological examination of the lymph nodes excised during resection.

Results: We determined total sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive and negative predictive values of 94.51%, 100%, 100% and 90%, respectively. In the 105 patients with malignant diseases, these values were 93.33%, 100%, 100% and 91.84%, respectively. In the 31 patients with benign diseases, values were 96.77%, 100%, 100% and 100%, respectively.

Conclusions: It was confirmed that mediastinoscopy supported by frozen section examination plays an important role in establishing diagnosis and planning treatment both in benign and malignant diseases.