What is thoracentesis?
Thoracentesis is a procedure to drain excess fluid from the pleura, the space that surrounds the lungs.
With thoracentesis, a needle or tube is inserted through the chest wall into the space around the lungs (pleural space), often with ultrasound guidance. The excess fluid is then drained.
Thoracentesis for lung cancer
Some patients with lung cancer accumulate excess fluid in the space that surrounds the lungs. Draining that fluid with thoracentesis helps restore fuller, more comfortable breathing and supports other treatment approaches.