Efficacy of closed pleural biopsy in exudative pleural effusion

Abstract EN

Closed pleural biopsy is known to be diagnostic in approximately 75% of pleural effusion undiagnosed by thoracocentesis or pleural fluid evaluation.

The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of closed pleural biopsy in exudative pleural effusion in marjan teaching hospital in Hilla.

Methods : We prospectively follow the diagnostic utility of closed pleural biopsies performed from May 2006 to November 2007 at the marjan teaching Hospital, Babylon, Iraq.

Results : fifty two pleural biopsies were performed in 52 patients using Abram's needle to obtain this biopsy.

Twelve cases were excluded due to no pleural tissue obtaining.

Specific diagnosis was obtained in 22 cases giving a diagnostic yield of 55%.

Of these 14 revealed tuberculosis, 4 neoplasia, & 4 post-pneumonic effusion.

A non-specific diagnosis was obtained in 18 cases (45%(.

Conclusion : By closed pleural biopsy 55% of undiagnosed exudative pleural effusions could be diagnosed.

This shows that closed pleural biopsy is still of value as a diagnostic procedure, and should be carried out prior to invasive procedures such as thoracoscopy or open pleural biopsy.