title: Long-term Outcome of Patients With Undiagnosed Pleural Effusion.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The cause of exudative pleural effusion cannot be determined in some patients. The longterm outcomes of patients with undiagnosed pleural effusion were analyzed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with exudative pleural effusion whose diagnostic procedures included pleural biopsy using video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery carried out between 2008 and 2012 were evaluated retrospectively. Patients diagnosed with non-specific pleuritis were included. Fifty-three patients with available follow-up data were included in the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty men and 13 women (mean age 53.9±13.9 years) were included. Median follow-up time was 24 months. No diagnosis was given in 27 patients (51%), and a clinical diagnosis was given in 26 patients (49%) during the follow-up period. Malignant disease (malignant mesothelioma) was diagnosed in 2 (3.7%) patients. Other diseases were parapneumonic effusion in 12, congestive heart failure in 8, and miscellaneous in 4 patients. Volume of effusion at the time of initial examination and re-accumulation of fluid after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery were associated with malignant disease (P=.004 and .0001, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the probability is low, some patients with exudative pleural effusion undiagnosed after pleural biopsy via video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery may have malignant disease. Patients with an initially large volume of effusion that re-accumulates after examination should be closely monitored.
authors.affiliation: Yedikule Teaching Hospital for Chest Diseases and Thoracic Surgery, Chest Diseases, Bu çalışma Türk Toraks Derneği 17. Yıllık Kongresinde 3.4.2014 tarihinde 'Sözel Sunum' olarak sunulmuştur, Estambul, Turquía. Electronic address: gunluoglu@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Gulsah
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gunluoglu
authors.affiliation: Yedikule Teaching Hospital for Chest Diseases and Thoracic Surgery, Thoracic Surgery, Bu çalışma Türk Toraks Derneği 17. Yıllık Kongresinde 3.4.2014 tarihinde 'Sözel Sunum' olarak sunulmuştur, Estambul, Turquía.
authors.forename: Aysun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Olcmen
authors.affiliation: Medipol University Faculty of Medicine, Thoracic Surgery, Bu çalışma Türk Toraks Derneği 17. Yıllık Kongresinde 3.4.2014 tarihinde 'Sözel Sunum' olarak sunulmuştur, Estambul, Turquía.
authors.forename: Mehmet Zeki
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Gunluoglu
authors.affiliation: Yedikule Teaching Hospital for Chest Diseases and Thoracic Surgery, Thoracic Surgery, Bu çalışma Türk Toraks Derneği 17. Yıllık Kongresinde 3.4.2014 tarihinde 'Sözel Sunum' olarak sunulmuştur, Estambul, Turquía.
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dincer
authors.affiliation: Yedikule Teaching Hospital for Chest Diseases and Thoracic Surgery, Thoracic Surgery, Bu çalışma Türk Toraks Derneği 17. Yıllık Kongresinde 3.4.2014 tarihinde 'Sözel Sunum' olarak sunulmuştur, Estambul, Turquía.
authors.forename: Adnan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sayar
authors.affiliation: Yedikule Teaching Hospital for Chest Diseases and Thoracic Surgery, Chest Diseases, Bu çalışma Türk Toraks Derneği 17. Yıllık Kongresinde 3.4.2014 tarihinde 'Sözel Sunum' olarak sunulmuştur, Estambul, Turquía.
authors.forename: Gungor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Camsari
authors.affiliation: Yedikule Teaching Hospital for Chest Diseases and Thoracic Surgery, Chest Diseases, Bu çalışma Türk Toraks Derneği 17. Yıllık Kongresinde 3.4.2014 tarihinde 'Sözel Sunum' olarak sunulmuştur, Estambul, Turquía.
authors.forename: Veysel
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.affiliation: Yedikule Teaching Hospital for Chest Diseases and Thoracic Surgery, Chest Diseases, Bu çalışma Türk Toraks Derneği 17. Yıllık Kongresinde 3.4.2014 tarihinde 'Sözel Sunum' olarak sunulmuştur, Estambul, Turquía.
authors.forename: Sedat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Altin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Cirugía toracoscópica videoasistida; Derrame pleural exudativo; Exudative pleural effusion; Idiopathic pleuritis; Nonspecific; Pleuritis idiopática; Pleuritis inespecífica; Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery; pleuritis