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Biopsy Methods

Bronchoscopy

A lighted tube that the physician can see through is placed into the windpipe of a patient that has had sedation and/or anesthesia. The physician can identify visually the region to perform a biopsy. This technique also provides information whether the tumor may be removable by surgery. It works best for tumors near the central windpipes. Same Day Procedure usually. (Outpatient)

CT scan biopsy

The patient is placed into the CT scan machine and using xray guidance, the area in question is biopsied using a thin needle placed through skin that has been carefully anesthetized. It works best for tumors near the edge of the lung. Same Day Procedure. (Outpatient)

Mediastinoscopy or mediastinotomy

These methods are described in the section under staging. This can be a same day procedure.

Fluid cytology

If the patient is coughing up abnormal phlegm, has abnormal amounts of fluid around the lung, or has an enlarged gland elsewhere then a sputum sample or a needle placed in these other abnormal areas can obtain tumor cells to make a diagnosis.

Operation

Sometimes, less invasive methods to confirm the cause of the lung lump fail and surgery is required. A definite diagnosis is not always needed before an operation such as when the risk of the lump being cancer is high, the risk of an operation is low, and an operation to potentially cure the patient would be appropriate. The most efficient means to obtain a diagnosis is a biopsy at the same time that the definitive operation is carried out.

Thoracoscopy

In this method, the lump in the lung is removed or biopsied with a special needle. See Treatment. If no more surgery than a biopsy is needed, many patients can leave the hospital the next day.

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