Transthoracic needle biopsy

Abstract

Transthoracic needle biopsy is a medical procedure to obtain a sample of tissue from the lung. Usually, this is done when one or more nodules are seen on chest imaging, such as a CT scan ("cat-scan"). We also call lung nodules "spots"or "shadows."These "spots"can be caused by scar, inflammation, infection, or cancer. When the cause of these nodules is unclear, performing a biopsy of the "spot"can help your healthcare team figure out what it is and what to do about it. For more information on Pulmonary Nodules, see the ATS Patient Education Series fact sheet 'What is a Lung Nodule' at www.thoracic.org/patients. ATS Patient Education Series.