[Role of video-assisted thoracoscopy in diagnosis of neoplasms in mediastinal organs].

: Diagnostic potential of video-assisted thoracoscopy was evaluated in 66 patients (36 males and 30 females) with neoplasms (aged 24-68 yrs). When used in conjunction with biopsy, it confirmed the following diagnoses: lymph proliferative disease (23), mediastinal malignancies (11), sarcoidosis (21), benign mediastinal tumors (7), Castleman's benign lymphoma (2) and mediastinal cyst (2). Clinical diagnosis was substantially changed in 40 (61%) cases as a result of videothoracoscopy application. It has proved precise, fairly safe and conservative; it has a potential in diagnosis of mediastinal tumors.