BACKGROUND: To establish an easily performing methodization for mediastinal limphadenectomy technique as a complement to lung cancer resection. METHODS: Twenty-two standard questionnaire were sent to several thoracic surgeons from several parts of Brazil. We evaluated the literature about the techniques described for mediastinal limphadenectomy by the following authors: Naruke, Martini, Izibicki and Watanabe. A literature review on the anatomy of mediastinal and pulmonary lymphatics has been carried out. After that, five fresh corpses of adult individuals of both sexes were dissected, and we sougth for a definition of the mediastinal areas and anatomic limits, important for limphadenectomy, as well as an individualization of the several lymph node groupings of each area. RESULTS: From the analysis of twenty-two answers to a standard questionnaire, we may conclude that there is a lack of technical methodization and a diversity of opinions on this issue. An easy performing methodization for mediastinal limphadenectomy technique was proposed. CONCLUSIONS: It's possible to establish an easily performing methodization for mediastinal limphadenectomy technique based in anatomical criteria.
Lung; Lung neoplasms; Lymph nodes; Lymph node excision; Surgery; Methods
