Decortication of the lung is a surgery that removes fibrous tissue that has formed on the surface of the lung.
Decortication means to remove the outer layer from a structure.
Surgeons use different techniques depending on the patient’s medical condition.
Surgeons who perform mesothelioma decortication scrape the lung lining to remove visible tumors and cancerous cells.
Decortication of the lung is the second part of a procedure known as a pleurectomy with decortication or P/D, which is often used to treat patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma.