open-lung biopsy

"The technique can minimize patient discomfort, simplify treatment and be considerably safer and less expensive than bronchoscopy or open-lung biopsy," the scientists wrote.

Open-lung biopsy is the most sensitive and specific diagnostic technique, but because it requires thoracotomy and often chest tube drainage, is not recommended routinely.

Guinee DG Jr, Fishback NF, Koss MN, et al.: The spectrum of immunohistochemical staining of small-cell lung carcinoma in specimens from transbronchial and open-lung biopsies.