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Lung Cancer Diagnosis
To confirm the presence of lung cancer, the doctor must examine tissue from the lung. A biopsy — the removal of a small sample of tissue for examination under a microscope by a pathologist — can show whether a person has cancer. A number of procedures may be used to obtain this tissue:
Bronchoscopy
With the patient under sedation and local anesthesia, the doctor inserts a bronchoscope (a thin, lighted tube) into the mouth or nose and down through the windpipe to look into the breathing passages. Through this tube, the doctor can collect cells or small samples of tissue.
Sputum cytology
A patient's sputum (phlegm) is stained and examined under the microscope to look for malignant tumor cells.
Needle aspiration
With the patient under local anesthesia, a needle is inserted through the chest into the tumor to remove a sample of tissue.
Thoracentesis
With the patient under local anesthesia, the doctor uses a needle to remove a sample of fluid, if present, that surrounds the lungs to check for cancer cells.
Thoracotomy
Surgery to open the chest is sometimes needed to diagnose lung cancer. This procedure is a major operation performed under general anesthesia.
Mediastinoscopy
A small operative procedure used to stage lung cancers. It is conducted in the operating room with the patient under anesthesia. A small incision is made at the base of the neck and a scope is inserted to visualize and biopsy lymph nodes where a lung tumor is known to have spread.
Learn about the many different types of lung cancer.
Back to Lung Cancer
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