Thoracic Diagnostic and Staging Procedures

This chapter reviews the diagnostic and staging procedures that relate to the most common thoracic malignancies in the thoracic cavity that are relevant to the general surgeon. Thoracic diagnostic and staging procedures involve the lungs, pleural space, and mediastinum, and include bronchoscopy (transbronchial needle aspiration, endobronchial ultrasound-guided needle aspiration, and rigid bronchoscopy), mediastinosocopy, parasternal mediastinotomy, video-assisted thoracic surgery, and mediastinal lymph node dissection. Diagnostic and staging procedures for the esophagus include esophagoscopy. The evaluation of a patient who presents with a question of intrathoracic pathology should begin with appropriate imaging studies, usually beginning with plain chest radiography followed by CT scanning of the chest done with intravenous contrast. Figures show various anatomic views, including a video-assisted thoracoscopic view. This chapter contains 26 references.