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Pleural biopsy
Overview
In a pleural biopsy, a small piece of pleural tissue in the chest is removed with a needle. The biopsy may distinguish between a cancerous and noncancerous disease. It also can help to detect whether a viral, fungal or parasitic disease is present.
Review Date 7/25/2025
Updated by: David A. Kaufman, MD, Director of Clinical Innovation and Education, Medical Critical Care, NYU Langone Medical Center, Tisch Hospital, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
