Pulmonary diagnostic testing
Biopsy techniques can now avoid conventional surgery by using minimally invasive procedures like endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) to diagnose lung cancer and other chest diseases. A minimally invasive approach allows physicians to perform a transbronchial needle aspiration to obtain tissue and/or fluid samples from the lungs and surrounding lymph nodes. The procedure is less invasive and the recovery time shorter than conventional surgery.
Available tests include:
Pulmonary function tests
- Spirometry
- Lung volume
- Gas exchange (DLCO)
- Maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV)
- Inspiratory and expiratory muscle pressures (PI and PE max)
- Oxygen titration
- Six-minute walk
- Methacholine challenge
- Cardiopulmonary stress
- Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO)
- Impulse oscillation or forced oscillation (IOS)
- Compliance
- High altitude simulation
Bronchial thermoplasty
Bronchoscopy
- Autofluorescence
- Electromagnetic navigation (ENB)
- Endobronchial ultrasound
- Interventional
Cardiopulmonary stress testing
Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS)
Exhaled nitrous oxide testing
Pleural biopsy
Thoracentesis
Transbronchial needle aspiration