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ArticleRespiratory research2026

Dual-functIon Semi-rigid thoraCoscOpy Versus semi-rigid thoracoscopy for the diagnosis of plEuRal diseases: protocol for a multicentre, open-label, randomised controlled trial in China (DISCOVER-I).

Mingming Deng, Xiaoping Liu, Wei Chen, Shuang Wei, Ziwen Zheng, Liwei Liao, Qin Zhang, Jia Li, Run Tong, José M Porcel and 2 more

Registry-linked trialAbstract readClinical Trial Protocol
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Respiratory research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT06744725 (Dual-function Semirigid Thoracoscopy Versus Semirigid Thoracoscopy for the Diagnosis of Pleural Diseases), which is not on this map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT06744725 nanot yet recruitingnot on this map

Dual-function Semirigid Thoracoscopy Versus Semirigid Thoracoscopy for the Diagnosis of Pleural Diseases: A Protocol for a Multicenter Open-label Randomized Controlled Trial

TypeinterventionalSponsorChina-Japan Friendship HospitalRan2025 to 2026Enrolled334ConditionsPleural DiseasesArmsPleural biopsy using dual-function semirigid thoracoscopy, Pleural biopsy using semirigid thoracoscopy
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Mingming Deng *National Center for Respiratory Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases, Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College; Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Center of Respiratory Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, P.R. China.
Xiaoping Liu *Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Second People's Hospital of Gansu Province, No. 1 Hezheng West Street, Chengguan District, Lanzhou, Gansu, P.R. China.
Wei ChenDepartment of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Ruijin Hospital, Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, P.R. China.
Shuang WeiDepartment of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No.1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, Hubei, P.R. China.
Ziwen ZhengNational Center for Respiratory Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases, Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College; Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Center of Respiratory Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, P.R. China.
Liwei LiaoNational Center for Respiratory Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases, Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College; Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Center of Respiratory Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, P.R. China.
Qin ZhangRespiratory Department, Center for Pulmonary Vascular Diseases, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, P.R. China.
Jia LiNational Center for Respiratory Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases, Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College; Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Center of Respiratory Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, P.R. China.
Run TongNational Center for Respiratory Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases, Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College; Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Center of Respiratory Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, P.R. China.
José M PorcelPleural Medicine and Clinical Ultrasound Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Arnau de Vilanova University Hospital, IRBLleida, University of Lleida, Avda Alcalde Rovira Roure 80, Lleida, 25198, Spain. jporcelp@yahoo.es.
Tao WangDepartment of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No.1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, Hubei, P.R. China. wt7636@126.com.
Gang HouNational Center for Respiratory Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases, Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College; Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Center of Respiratory Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, P.R. China. hougangcmu@163.com.

Funding

Excellence & Innovation Initiative of China-Japan Friendship Hospital NO. ZRZC2025-XYA01
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundExudative pleural effusion often presents diagnostic challenges, with up to 25% of cases remaining undiagnosed after thoracentesis or closed pleural biopsy. Semi-rigid thoracoscopy is a widely used minimally invasive diagnostic method. However, its diagnostic yield is limited by small and superficial biopsy samples due to the lack of mechanical power, particularly in cases of thickened pleura or suspected mesothelioma. We had designed and developed a dual-function semi-rigid thoracoscope and semi-rigid forceps to improve sampling quality and depth. However, their diagnostic performance and safety, particularly compared with that of conventional semi-rigid thoracoscopy is still unclear.

methodsThis randomised controlled trial will enrol a total of 522 adults with exudative pleural effusions of unclear aetiology that remain undiagnosed after the initial investigations from 10 sites in China. Participants will be randomised (1:1:1) to undergo thoracoscopy using either a conventional semi-rigid thoracoscope (with flexible forceps) or a novel dual-function semi-rigid thoracoscope (with either semi-rigid forceps alone or a combination of flexible and rigid forceps). The primary outcome is diagnostic yield. Secondary outcomes include the biopsy success rate, incidence of procedure-related complications, biopsy specimen size and depth, histological interpretability, and adequacy of tissue for molecular marker analysis. DISCUSSION: We hypothesize that the dual-function semi-rigid thoracoscopy with semi-rigid forceps will achieve higher diagnostic yield than conventional semi-rigid thoracoscopy due to the larger and deeper sampling. If this hypothesis is validated, dual-function semi-rigid thoracoscopy could be a novel option for performing pleural biopsy for patients with unknown exudative pleural effusion.

trial registrationThis study has been registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov (ID: NCT06744725; Registration Date: 2024-12-19).

Indexed as

Pleural DiseasesPleural EffusionThoracoscopesThoracoscopyAdultChinaEquipment DesignFemaleHumansMaleMulticenter Studies as TopicRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicMedical thoracoscopyPleural biopsyPleural effusion

Identifiers

PMID41656194
PMCPMC12983916

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Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.