title: Evaluation of the diagnostic yield and safety of closed pleural biopsy in the diagnosis of pleural effusion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the diagnostic yield and safety of closed pleural biopsy in patients with pleural effusion.
  
  
  METHODS
  In all, 48 consecutive cases of pleural effusion were evaluated with complete pleural fluid biochemical and microbiological analysis, cytology, routine bacterial and mycobacterial cultures. In all these 48 cases of pleural effusion closed pleural biopsy was done with tru-cut biopsy needle and biopsy samples were sent for histopathology and mycobacterial culture.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 48 cases, main causes of pleural effusion were Tuberculosis in 21(43.8%) cases, Malignancy in 14 (29.2%) cases, paramalignant effusion in six (12.5%) cases, Empyema in three (6.3%) cases, transudative effusion in three (6.3%) cases and parapneumonic effusion in one (1.9%) case. Diagnostic yield of closed pleural biopsy was 62.2% in cases of all exudative pleural effusion, 76.2% in cases of tubercular pleural effusion and 85.7% in cases of malignant pleural effusion. There was no incidence of post pleural biopsy pneumothorax or hemothorax, underlining the safety of pleural biopsy procedure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Closed pleural biopsy provides the highest diagnostic yield in cases of pleural tuberculosis and malignancy, the two most important causes of exudative pleural effusion. In view of low cost, easy availability and very low complication rates, it is a very important diagnostic tool in the hands of a trained pulmonary physician in India.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu. drprincej@gmail.com
authors.forename: Prince
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: James
authors.forename: Richa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Christopher
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Balamugesh
mesh_terms: D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000379:methods; D002283:Carcinoma, Bronchogenic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D013906:Thoracoscopy; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis