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Procedures & Tests Beginning With L
13 procedures and tests in this guide begin with the letter L. Every name links to a plain-language page covering what the procedure is, how to prepare, what happens during it, and what recovery involves.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W X
| Procedure / test | Category | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Laparoscopic fundoplication (anti-reflux surgery) | General Surgery | Fundoplication is keyhole surgery for reflux in which the upper part of the stomach is wrapped around the lower gullet to strengthen the valve that keeps acid out of the gullet. The commonest version is a full (Nissen) wrap; partial wraps are also used. |
| Laparoscopy (diagnostic) | Endoscopy | A diagnostic laparoscopy is a keyhole operation in which a camera is inserted through a small cut near the belly button to look directly at the organs inside the abdomen and pelvis. Many operations are also done this way (therapeutic laparoscopy). |
| Laryngoscopy | Endoscopy | Laryngoscopy examines the voice box (larynx) and vocal cords. In clinic this is often done with a flexible scope through the nose; in theatre, under general anaesthetic, a rigid instrument gives a close view and allows biopsies and small procedures. |
| Laser eye treatment (YAG capsulotomy) | Eyes | After cataract surgery, the thin membrane that holds the new lens can gradually cloud over and blur vision again (posterior capsule opacification). YAG laser capsulotomy makes a small opening in that cloudy membrane with a focused laser, restoring a clear path for light. |
| Laser prostate surgery (HoLEP / GreenLight) | Urology | Laser prostate surgery removes or vaporises obstructing prostate tissue using laser energy delivered through a telescope in the urine tube. HoLEP shells out the inner prostate in whole lobes (removed via a morcellator), suitable for very large glands; GreenLight vaporises tissue, creating an open channel. |
| Leg Doppler ultrasound (vein scan) | Imaging & Scans | A leg Doppler (venous duplex) ultrasound uses sound waves to check the deep veins of the leg for a blood clot (deep vein thrombosis, DVT) and to assess vein valves in varicose vein problems. |
| Liver biopsy | Biopsies & Lab Tests | A liver biopsy takes a small core of liver tissue with a needle, usually through the skin between the ribs under ultrasound guidance (percutaneous), to diagnose and stage liver disease. A transjugular route through a neck vein is used when clotting is poor or fluid is present. |
| Liver elastography (FibroScan) | Digestive | Liver elastography (commonly FibroScan) is a painless ultrasound-based test that measures liver stiffness, which reflects scarring (fibrosis), and can also estimate fat in the liver. |
| Lumbar puncture (spinal tap) | Brain & Nerves | A lumbar puncture inserts a fine needle into the fluid-filled space around the lower spinal cord (below where the cord ends) to measure pressure and take samples of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for testing, and occasionally to give medicines or relieve pressure. |
| Lumpectomy (breast-conserving surgery) | General Surgery | A lumpectomy (wide local excision) removes a breast cancer together with a margin of healthy tissue, preserving the rest of the breast. It is usually followed by radiotherapy, and outcomes for suitable cancers are equivalent to mastectomy. |
| Lung cancer screening (low-dose CT for high-risk smokers) | Screening | Lung cancer screening uses low-dose CT scans of the chest in people at high risk — typically current or former heavy smokers in a defined age range (programmes vary; for example 55 to 74 in the expanding UK targeted lung health check programme, and 50 to 80 with a significant smoking history in the US). |
| Lymph node biopsy (core / excisional) | Biopsies & Lab Tests | A lymph node biopsy samples an enlarged lymph node to find the cause — infection, inflammation or cancer (lymphoma or spread from another cancer). A core biopsy takes needle cores under imaging guidance; an excisional biopsy removes the whole node surgically, giving the most complete architecture for lymphoma diagnosis. |
| Lymph node biopsy / excision | General Surgery | A lymph node biopsy removes part or all of an enlarged lymph node so it can be examined under the microscope. Excision of the whole node gives the laboratory the most complete information, especially when lymphoma is a possibility. |
Please note: This page is educational information about a medical procedure or test. It does not replace the instructions of your own care team, who know your situation and whose preparation, fasting and medication advice you should follow if it differs from anything here. If you have symptoms that worry you, or an appointment you do not understand, contact your clinical team.