Sunday, February, 12, 2012

Pleural needle biopsy

Table of Contents

Alternative Names

Closed pleural biopsy; Needle biopsy of the pleura


Normal Values

The pleural tissues appear normal, without signs of inflammation, infection, or cancer.

Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.


What abnormal results mean

Abnormal results may reveal cancer, tuberculosis, a viral disease, a fungal disease, a parasitic disease, or collagen vascular disease.

Other conditions under which the test may be done include:

  • Malignant mesothelioma
  • Metastatic pleural tumor
  • Primary lung cancer

Review Date: 12/08/2009
Reviewed By: Allen J. Blaivas, DO, Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine UMDNJ-NJMS, Attending Physician in the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Department of Veteran Affairs, VA New Jersey Health Care System, East Orange, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)