MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Incision for pleural tissue biopsy

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Incision for pleural tissue biopsy

In an open pleural biopsy, a small piece of the pleural tissue is removed through a surgical incision in the chest. After the sample is obtained, a chest tube is placed and the incision is closed with stitches. Abnormal results may indicate tuberculosis, abnormal growths, viral, fungal, and parasitic diseases.

Update Date: 10/16/2006

Updated by: J.A. Lee, M.D., Division of Surgery, UCSF, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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