PLEURAL BIOPSY AS AN AID IN THE ETIOLOGIC DIAGNOSIS OF PLEURAL EFFUSION: REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE AND REPORT OF 132 BIOPSIES

Abstract

The etiology of pleural effusion is often difficult to establish using conventional methods for studying the fluid. Aspiration biopsy of the parietal pleura is a safe and effective diagnostic technique and should be used in all cases of pleural effusion at the time of the initial thoracentesis. It can be performed easily without any morbidity. If a specific diagnosis is not obtained by the needle aspiration method, intercostal surgical pleural biopsy should be performed. Full surgical exploration is reserved for those patients in whom there is a failure in diagnosis using the intercostal surgical approach to the pleura. Therapy for tuberculous pleural effusion should be given only when there is histologic or bacteriologic confirmation of the diagnosis.