title: [Video thoracoscopy in the diagnosis of pleural effusions].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  At present video thoracoscopy is a primary diagnostic procedure in the diagnosis of pleural diseases, particularly when pleural effusions have unknown origin.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this article the personal experience is reported about 20 patients in which video thoracoscopy was very important in the diagnosis of pleural effusions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thoracoscopy permits to explore the thoracic cavity and to do a lot of biopsies. Video thoracoscopy, made it possible to diagnose 10 cases of malignant mesothelioma, 2 cases of pleural metastases (renal mts and mammary mts) and 8 cases of inflammatory diseases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  At last, is laid on the contribution of video thoracoscopy to determine the stage of malignant mesothelioma.
authors.affiliation: Divisione A di Chirurgia Generale, Azienda Ospedaliera Ospedale S. Anna, Como.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cataldi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bianchi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010994:Pleura / Q000473:pathology; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016066:Pleural Effusion, Malignant / Q000175:diagnosis; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D020708:Thoracoscopes; D013906:Thoracoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014741:Video Recording