title: Surgical techniques in the diagnosis of pulmonary disease.
abstract: In conclusion, the previously described techniques have been found useful, alone or in combination, for the accurate assessment of the patient with pulmonary disease. These techniques may be used either to establish a diagnosis or to determine the extent of disease in order to plan further operative or nonoperative treatment. Future developments in tumor biology regarding radioactive labeling of tumor-specific compounds may lead to a re-evaluation of the need for these invasive diagnostic procedures. Until this occurs, judicious use of these surgical procedures is necessary for the accurate diagnosis of pulmonary disease.
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008481:Mediastinoscopy / Q000379:methods; D013906:Thoracoscopy