title: Minithoracoscopy: a complementary technique for medical thoracoscopy.
abstract: Minithoracoscopy, currently defined as thoracoscopy with instruments of a diameter between 2 and 5 mm, is part of the general evolution of endoscopy towards mini-invasiveness. Its most relevant indications in the field of medical thoracoscopy are small effusions, pleural effusions in patients with narrow intercostal spaces and suspected tuberculous pleurisy in areas of low incidence of tuberculosis. In general, it increases the versatility of medical thoracoscopy.
authors: Divisione di Pneumologia, Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italia. gf.tassi@tin.it
authors: Gian Franco
authors: GF
authors: Tassi
authors: Gian Pietro
authors: GP
authors: Marchetti
authors: Valentina
authors: V
authors: Pinelli
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000601:surgery*; D013906:Thoracoscopy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D014396:Tuberculosis, Pleural / Q000601:surgery