Needle biopsy of the pleura

 

In reference to pleural mesothelioma, this is often done at the same time as a thoracoscopy.  If during the thoracoscopy the surgeon notices an abnormality or a suspicious lesion, he or she may want to get a small sample of it to send to the lab to determine whether or not it is an area of concern.  To do this, he or she may perform a needle biopsy, in which a small needle is inserted into the lesion to obtain a tissue sample.  While typically safe, occasionally this procedure may cause collapse of the lung or bleeding.

Anna L. Kaplan, M.D.

 

 

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