Table 1 Patient characteristics and pre-operation diagnosis

Patients

N = 101

Male/female gender

68/33

Median age(year)(range)

57.4 years (24-84)

Pre-operation diagnosis

Suspected for lung cancer

N = 55

Suspected for esophageal carcinoma

N = 2

Malignant mediastinal mass

N = 1

Mediastinal and hilar lymphadenopathy

N = 43