[What contribution for mediastinoscopy in non-tumor specific mediastinal lesions?].

Introduction: The aim of our study was to assess the interest of cervical mediastinoscopy in the management of benign mediastinal lymphadenopathy.

Method: We performed a single-center retrospective descriptive study over a period of 5 years (2013-2017) in the department of thoracic surgery of university hospital Hassan II of Fez.

Results: During this period, a total of 137 cervical mediastinoscopies were performed among which 68 for a benign disease. This represents a frequency of 49.63 %. There were 22 men and 46 women with a mean age of 43.76 years±17.08. Chest CT showed isolated mediastinal lymphadenopathy in 52 %, associated with pulmonary images in 35 %. Cervical mediastinoscopy led to pathological diagnosis in 94 %. The pathological results showed a sarcoidosis in 51.5 %, tuberculosis in 41.2 % and a lymph node echinococcosis in 1 case.

Conclusion: Cervical mediastinoscopy remains a low risk modality in expert hands, which allows pathological diagnosis with excellent sensitivity, acceptable morbidity and no mortality in our experience.