Comment et pourquoi j'explore le médiastin?

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) was originally developed for the local staging of gastrointestinal cancers, but it also provides excellent access to the mediastinum through the oesophageal wall. Mediastinal masses represent a diagnostic challenge because of their proximity to numerous critical structures, the difficulty of access for tissue sampling, and a myriad of potential pathologic aetiologies. EUS is superior to CT in the evaluation of metastatic lymphadenopathy, in differentiating benign from malignant lymph nodes and in characterizing cystic lesions. EUS allows cytodiagnosis by fine needle aspiration biopsy (EUS-FNA) with a high sensitivity and specificity. The technique for EUS imaging of the mediastinum will be described as well as the indications and limitations for EUS-FNA