Transthoracic needle biopsy can be used in lung cancer diagnosis

If the abnormal shadow seen on a chest x-ray is in the surrounding areas of the lung, beyond visual reach of the bronchoscope, the doctor will sometimes decide that transthoracic needle biopsy is necessary. Using an X-ray or CT scan for guidance, the doctor takes a small needle and places it into a mass in the lung, removing a small piece for study. Transthoracic needle biopsy is successful in diagnosis of the majority of lung cancers, but the success rate for small tumors drops considerably.