Subxiphoidal videomediastinoscopy for diagnostic access to the anterior mediastinum

Access to the anterior mediastinum from the epigastric region through the retrosternal space, performed with a videomediastinoscope, is described. The method can be used to release the lower lobes of the thymus in transcervical thymectomy as well as for the diagnosis of retrosternal masses of uncertain origin on either side of the anterior mediastinum.