What is thoracoscopy?

Also known as: thoracoscopic lung or pleural biopsy, thoracoscopic surgery for decortication, empyema, mediastinal or lung tumor, or thymoma.

A thoracoscope is a long, thin camera used to inspect the lungs and internal chest cavity. Thoracoscopy can encompass simply viewing the lungs and their surroundings or it can refer to using instruments to operate on the lungs by passing them through small tubes called ports.
 

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Reviewed by: Cathy Anne Burnweit, MD

This page was last updated on: 1/29/2019 3:21:13 PM