[Percutaneous needle aspiration biopsy of mediastinal lesions].

Percutaneous needle aspiration biopsy of mediastinal lesions was done in 49 patients. A high diagnostic value was obtained from lung (80%) and thymoma (70%) in mediastinal metastasis. The diagnostic rate for mediastinal malignant lymphoma, benign mediastinal cysts, and teratoma was 66.7%, 50% and 50% respectively. Pathological diagnosis of neurogenic tumors showed a positive rate of 33.3%. The procedure therefore, should be used selectively.