title: Histologic aspects in pleural diseases revealed by needle biopsy.
abstract: In 59 patients, 18 to 82 years old, with pleural exudates, a number of 78 needle biopsies were performed in view of establishing the etiologic diagnosis. The diagnosis was: pleural tuberculosis in 9 cases, acute or chronic non-tuberculous inflammation in 8 cases, postinfectious sequelae in 6 cases, secondary malignant neoplasia in 10 cases; 2 mesotheliomas, and in 24 cases the aspect was normal or the minimal alterations found were not conclusive. The proportion of confirmations was of 81% for tuberculosis and 37% for cancer. The method is recommended as being of particular value in establishing the etiologic diagnosis of pleural exudates.
mesh_terms: D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D006801:Humans; D010994:Pleura / Q000473:pathology*; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D014396:Tuberculosis, Pleural / Q000175:diagnosis