The diagnostic value of interpleural lymph node biopsy.

The authors examined biopsies of the interpleural lymph nodes harvested by mediastinoscopy and hilloscopy in 162 patients (133 males and 29 females). The diagnostic efficiency is very high in sarcoidosis, silicosis and in Hodgkin's disease. In sarcoidosis biopsy is able to indicate the evolutive stage of the disease. In malignant lymphogranulomatosis all the observations belonged to type II of nodular sclerosis. In bronchial carcinoma interpleural lymph node biopsy may be practised with diagnostic purposes or in order to check up operability.