What surgical procedure assists in diagnosing conditions by viewing structures in the chest?

The procedure that assists in diagnosing conditions by allowing direct visualization of structures in the chest is mediastinoscopy. This minimally invasive surgical technique involves making a small incision at the base of the neck and inserting a camera (mediastinoscope) to examine the mediastinum, which is the area between the lungs that contains vital structures such as the heart, aorta, trachea, and lymph nodes. Through this procedure, physicians can evaluate for conditions such as lung cancer, lymphoma, infections, or other thoracic diseases, and they can also sample lymph nodes for biopsy to make a definitive diagnosis.

In contrast, a pneumonectomy is a surgical procedure that involves the removal of an entire lung, primarily used for treatment rather than diagnosis. A thoracotomy is an invasive procedure that involves opening the chest wall to access the thoracic organs but is typically performed for therapeutic purposes rather than purely for diagnostic visualization. A biopsy is a procedure that involves obtaining tissue samples for examination but does not specifically refer to the visualization of structures in the chest; it can be performed through various methods, including during mediastinoscopy.