Abstract
Background: Pleural effusion may arise from a wide range of diseases. However, it is difficult to make a diagnosis by thoracocentesis or needle biopsy. Recently, semiflexible thoracoscopy has been performed under local anesthesia for diagnosis or treatment of pleural diseases.
Objectives: To determine the benefit and safety of the thoracoscopy for the diagnosis of unknown pleural effusion or the treatment of pleural diseases.
Method: Between April 2001 and June 2011, we performed the thoracoscopy in 39 patients (31 men and 8 women) who could not be diagnosed by cytologic and bacteriologic examinations of pleural effusion by thoracocentesis. We used a semiflexible thoracoscope (LFT 240; Olympus Medical Systems Co., Tokyo, Japan) for the observations of pleural cavity, and obtained pleural biopsies from abnormal areas of parietal pleura.
Results: We underwent semiflexble thoracoscopy in 29 patients for diagnosis of pleural diseases and 22 cases were provided the pathological diagnosis (6 pleuritis carcinomatosa, 2 malignant mesothelioma, 1 synobital sarcoma, 7 empyema, 3 tuberculous pleural effusion, 2 rheumatoid arthritis and 1 sarcoidosis). In addition, semiflexible thoracoscopy was performed for the treatment in 10 cases with acute or chronic empyema for the purpose of detachment of fibrin, destruction and removal of the septum.
Conclusions: Semiflexible thoracoscopy under local anesthesia can be safely performed by pulmonary physicians. It is considered an easy and useful examination for the diagnosis of pleural diseases.
- © 2012 ERS
