ABSTRACT
A small (10 cm) incision is made in the lateral chest wall under a general anaesthetic through which a segment of lung is removed. The lung is then stapled and sealed and the biopsies taken for histological examination. This is most commonly used in interstitial lung diseases such as a fibrosing or infiltrative or infective process. Disease such as carcinoma, sarcoidosis or cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis can be diagnosed this way. There is a low mortality involved and as with any surgical procedure informed written consent is necessary.
