What does thoracentesis mean?
Thoracentesis is a medical procedure involving the insertion of a needle through the chest wall into the pleural space, the area between the lung and the chest wall. It is used to remove pleural fluid, which can accumulate for many reasons, or to collect a sample for laboratory analysis. A diagnostic thoracentesis helps identify the cause of an effusion, while a therapeutic thoracentesis is intended to relieve pressure on the lung and improve breathing. The term is formal and is commonly discussed in medicine; in less technical conversation, it is often called a pleural tap. Although the procedure may sound unfamiliar, it is a well-established way to investigate and manage fluid around the lungs.
nounA medical procedure in which a needle is inserted through the chest wall into the pleural space, the space between the lungs and chest wall, to remove fluid or obtain a sample for examination. It may be performed for diagnosis or to relieve symptoms caused by an abnormal accumulation of fluid.
- The needle puncture of the pleural space to remove fluid or obtain a diagnostic sample.
"The patient underwent thoracentesis because imaging showed a large pleural effusion."
"The physician recommended diagnostic thoracentesis to determine the cause of the unexplained pleural effusion."
"Therapeutic thoracentesis relieved the patient's breathlessness by draining fluid from the pleural cavity."
The plural thoracenteses is used for multiple procedures.
"The patient underwent two thoracenteses over the course of the week."
A thoracentesis is the chest's fluid tap: it can reveal what is accumulating around the lung and provide immediate relief when the fluid is pressing on it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does thoracentesis come from?
The word combines the Greek thōrax, meaning “chest” or “thorax,” with Greek kentēsis, meaning “puncture,” reflecting the needle puncture involved in the procedure. It developed within the Latin and Greek vocabulary of anatomical medicine and is related to terms such as thoracic, thoracotomy, and thoracoscopy.
How thoracentesis is actually used
This is a formal medical term used chiefly in clinical settings. In conversation, it is often called a pleural tap.
Easily confused with thoracentesis
Thoracentesis is a needle puncture used to remove pleural fluid or obtain a sample, whereas thoracotomy is a surgical incision made to access structures inside the chest.