[Medical thoracoscopy in the diagnosis of complicate pleural effusion].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the role of medical thoracoscopy in the diagnosis of the pleural effusion of unknown etiology.


METHODS
The results of 36 patients with the pleural disease of unknown etiology diagnosed by medical thoracoscopy were retrospectively analyzed, including the pathologic results and the complications.


RESULTS
Among the 36 patients, 35 were determined with positive rate of 97.2%, and no serious complications was found.


CONCLUSIONS
Medical thoracoscopy is an important method of diagnosing complicate pleural effusion, and has high positive rate. It is a simple operation, with no serious complication, and fast recovery.
Yang
Hong-Zhong
HZ
Department of Respiratory Diseases, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China.
Hu
Cheng-Ping
CP
Yang
Hua-Ping
HP
Qu
Su-Jie
SJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013906:Thoracoscopy