ArticleCureus2024
Validity of Pleuroscopy in Evaluating Pleural Effusions of Uncertain Etiology at the Cardiothoracic Unit of Minia University Hospital, Egypt.
Article in Cureus, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Diagnostic performance and safety of image-guided pleural biopsy and medical thoracoscopy for undiagnosed exudative pleural effusion: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.European respiratory review : an official journal of the European Respiratory Society · 2026Pooled it
- Accuracy of next-generation sequencing for rapid diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy: A protocol of systematic review and meta-analysis.PloS one · 2025Article
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7 authors.
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Abstract
introductionPleural effusion is a medical condition where an excessive amount of fluid accumulates in the pleural space. This can be caused by inflammation or malignant growth in the body. Doctors use medical thoracoscopy for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. This technique allows them to view the internal pleural surfaces and take biopsies of any abnormal lesions within the pleural cavity.
objectiveThis work aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of pleuroscopy in patients with undiagnosed exudative pleural effusion. PATIENTS AND
methodsA study was conducted on 61 patients who had undiagnosed exudative pleural effusion and were admitted to the chest department at the cardiothoracic unit of the Minia University Hospital. All patients provided written consent and underwent a complete history and clinical examination. Standard laboratory tests, including routine liver and kidney function tests, a complete blood count, and a coagulation profile, were conducted on all patients, along with chest X-rays. If necessary, a chest CT scan was also performed. Diagnostic thoracentesis was done, and the pleural fluid was analyzed for sugar, protein, and lactate dehydrogenase and sent for bacteriological analysis (Gram stain, culture, and acid-fast bacilli smear) and cytopathological examination. Medical thoracoscopy was performed in cases where an etiological diagnosis was not established.
resultsA total of 61 patients with undiagnosed exudative pleural effusions were included. A definitive etiological diagnosis was reached in 58 (95%) patients. In 47 (77%) of the studied group, malignant etiology was confirmed; nine (14.8%) had tuberculous pleurisy, one (1.6%) had empyema, and one (1.6%) had inflammatory/autoimmune pleurisy. A definite diagnosis was not reached in three (5%) patients. The malignant pathology was caused by bronchogenic carcinoma in 20 (42.5%) cases, malignant mesothelioma in 10 (21.3%) cases, metastatic malignant deposits from other organs in six (12.7%) cases, and lymphoma in three (6.5%) cases. No serious adverse events related to the procedure were recorded. The most common minor complications were transient chest pain in 34 (55.7%) patients, followed by surgical emphysema in 10 (16.4%) patients.
conclusionPleuroscopy is an effective diagnostic tool for identifying the cause of pleural effusion when it is unclear. It is a minimally invasive and straightforward procedure associated with high diagnostic accuracy and low complication rates.
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