The role of thoracoscopy in the management of cancer patients.
Thoracoscopy or video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) has become an important tool in the management of thoracic diseases. Most thoracic procedures are first attempted using a VATS technique. Thoracoscopy has an important role in managing malignancies that present with symptoms or lesions in the chest. Although the primary role is diagnostic, in the case of non-thoracic malignancies, VATS also has an important palliative treatment role, as in dealing with pleural and pericardial effusions and metastatic deposits.
Krasna
Mark J
MJ
St. Joseph Cancer Institute, Towson, MD 21204, USA. markkrasna@catholichealth.net
D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D013906:Thoracoscopy / Q000379:methods*