Thoracoscopy
Thoracoscopy is a procedure that is frequently used in the diagnosis of mesothelioma. This procedure can be performed in an operating room under general anesthesia or with local anesthesia and sedation. The surgeon creates a small hole between the ribs and inserts a thin, flexible camera (known as an endoscope) that allows him or her to examine the chest cavity and external lining of the lungs. Recovery from this procedure is quick and the complications are usually minimal, depending on whether other diagnostic or palliative measures are performed at the same time.
Anna L. Kaplan, M.D.