Which procedure provides visual examination of the chest cavity?

• A. Sigmoidoscopy
• B. Thoracoscopy
• C. Pulmonary Angiography
• D. Sodium Levels

Answer: (B)

Direct examination of the chest cavity is accomplished with thoracoscopy, a procedure that uses a thoracoscope inserted through the chest wall to visualize the pleural space, lungs, and mediastinal structures. This allows real-time viewing of the chest interior and can be used to obtain biopsies or perform therapeutic interventions. The other options don’t provide direct visualization of the chest cavity: sigmoidoscopy inspects the sigmoid colon, pulmonary angiography images the blood vessels of the lungs with contrast, and sodium levels are a laboratory blood test. Thoracoscopy is also known as video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) when used for surgical purposes.