Videothoracoscopy in the spreading evaluation of bronchogenic cancers

Mediastinoscopy is often necessary in management of lung cancer. Progress recently achieved in the field of thoracoscopy has led us to introduce videothoracoscopy as a complement to mediastinoscopy in preoperative management of such tumors. From June 1994 to June 1995, 113 patients presenting with stage I-IIIA lung cancer underwent a videothoracoscopy before surgery. No side-effects were observed. Results obtained in this study lead us to conclude that videothoracoscopy is useful before surgery of lung cancer.