Bronchoscopy is a procedure that lets clinicians look inside the airways (the trachea and bronchi) using a thin, flexible or rigid camera. It is commonly used to evaluate symptoms and imaging findings involving the lungs and central airways. In cancer care, it often helps diagnose, stage, or manage tumors affecting the lungs or nearby structures. It can also be used to relieve airway blockage or control bleeding in selected situations.
Ascitic fluid cytology is a lab test that looks for abnormal cells in fluid collected from the abdomen. The fluid is called ascites, and it can build up for cancer and non-cancer reasons. This test is commonly used when clinicians need to evaluate whether ascites may be related to malignancy. It is often part of a broader oncology workup and staging discussion.
Pleural fluid cytology is a laboratory test that looks for abnormal cells in fluid collected from around the lungs. It is most often used when a person has a pleural effusion, meaning extra fluid has built up in the pleural space. In oncology care, it can help determine whether cancer is involved and what kind of cancer cells are present. It is commonly ordered in hospitals and cancer centers as part of evaluating shortness of breath or chest symptoms.
Paracentesis is a medical procedure that removes fluid from the abdomen using a needle or small tube. The fluid usually collects in the peritoneal cavity, the space around the abdominal organs. It is commonly used to evaluate or relieve ascites, which is abdominal fluid buildup. In oncology, it may be used for diagnosis, symptom relief, or supportive care.
Thoracentesis is a procedure that removes fluid from the space around the lungs. That space is called the pleural space, between the lung and the chest wall. It is commonly used to evaluate or relieve a pleural effusion (a fluid buildup). In cancer care, it can support diagnosis, staging workups, and symptom relief.
CSF cytology is a laboratory test that looks for abnormal cells in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). CSF is the clear fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. In oncology, CSF cytology is commonly used when clinicians suspect cancer has involved the lining of the brain or spinal cord. It can also support diagnosis and staging in some blood cancers that may spread to the central nervous system.
Lumbar puncture is a medical procedure used to access the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. It is sometimes called a spinal tap. Clinicians use it to collect cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for testing or to deliver medication into the CSF. It is commonly used in neurology and in oncology when cancers may involve the central nervous system.
Bone marrow aspirate is a small sample of liquid bone marrow removed through a needle. It is most commonly used to evaluate blood cancers and other conditions that affect blood cell production. The sample helps clinicians study cells under a microscope and run specialized laboratory tests. It is often done alongside a bone marrow core biopsy, which collects a small piece of solid marrow.
Bone marrow biopsy is a test that removes a small sample of bone marrow for laboratory examination. Bone marrow is the soft, blood-forming tissue inside certain bones. This test is commonly used in cancer care and blood disorders to help explain abnormal blood counts or symptoms. It is most often performed in hematology-oncology clinics and hospitals.
Stereotactic biopsy is an image-guided method for taking small tissue samples from an abnormal area. It uses computer-assisted coordinates to target a precise location inside the body. It is commonly used in breast care (especially for calcifications seen on mammograms) and in neurosurgery for brain lesions. The goal is to obtain tissue for diagnosis while limiting how much tissue is disturbed.