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.
Lung cancer can be detected with a biopsy