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mediastinoscopy
medical examination
- Related Topics:
- endoscopy
- mediastinum
mediastinoscopy, medical examination of the mediastinum (the region between the lungs and behind the sternum, or breastbone) using a lighted instrument known as a mediastinoscope. Because the region of the mediastinum contains the heart, trachea, esophagus, and thymus gland, as well as a set of lymph nodes, mediastinoscopy can be used to evaluate and diagnose a variety of thoracic diseases, including tuberculosis and sarcoidosis (a disease characterized by the formation of small grainy lumps within tissues). It fulfills an especially important role in the detection and diagnosis of cancers affecting the thoracic cavity, serving as one of the primary methods ...(100 of 388 words)