Health Encyclopedia

Open lung biopsy

Definition

An open lung biopsy is surgery to remove a small piece of tissue from the lung. The sample is then examined for cancer, infection, or lung disease.

Alternative Names

Biopsy - open lung

How the test is performed

An open lung biopsy is done in a hospital operating room under general anesthesia, which means you are asleep and pain-free. A tube will be placed through the mouth and into the airway that leads to the lungs.

After cleaning the skin, the surgeon makes a cut in the chest area and removes a small piece of lung tissue. The wound is closed with stitches.

A chest tube may be left in place for 1 to 2 days to prevent the lung from collapsing.

How to prepare for the test

You should tell the health care provider if you are pregnant, allergic to any medications, and if you have a bleeding problem. Be sure to tell the health care team which medications you are taking (including any herbal preparations).

You will be asked not to eat or drink for 8 to 12 hours before the procedure.

How the test will feel

When you wake up after the procedure, you will feel drowsy for several hours. You may have a mild sore throat from the tube. You will feel some discomfort and pain at the incision site.

Why the test is performed

The open lung biopsy is done to evaluate lung problems seen on x-ray or CT scan.

Normal Values

The lungs and lung tissue will be normal.

What abnormal results mean

Abnormal results may indicate cancer, benign tumors, lung diseases, and certain infections.

The procedure may also help diagnose the following conditions:

What the risks are

There is a possibility of infection or an air leak into the chest. Your risk depends on whether or not you already have lung disease.

Review Date:10/16/2006
Reviewed By:J.A. Lee, M.D., Division of Surgery, UCSF, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

ADAM Quality A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The Agency for Health Care Administration (Agency) and this website do not claim the information on, or referred to by, this site is error free. This site may include links to websites of other government agencies or private groups. Our Agency and this website do not control such sites and are not responsible for their content. Reference to or links to any other group, product, service, or information does not mean our Agency or this website approves of that group, product, service, or information.

Additionally, while health information provided through this website may be a valuable resource for the public, it is not designed to offer medical advice. Talk with your doctor about medical care questions you may have.