The case against performing pleural biopsies for the aetiological diagnosis of exudates.

Abstract

In most cases, the etiological diagnosis of pleural exudates does not require a pleural biopsy. However, when it is considered necessary, the biopsy should seldom be conducted using invasive methods such as thoracoscopy. Two paradigmatic examples are pleural tuberculosis and malignant effusions. In many centres, pleural fluid adenosine deaminase measurement has replaced closed pleural biopsies in the diagnosis of tuberculosis. Similarly, pathological and molecular studies on pleural fluid cell blocks or alternatively, image-guided pleural biopsies have drastically reduced the need for thoracoscopy.

• Authors: J M Porcel
• Journal: Revista clinica espanola (Rev Clin Esp (Barc)) Vol. 217 Issue 7 Pg. 423-426 (Oct 2017) ISSN: 2254-8874 [Electronic] Spain
• Vernacular Title: ¿Se debe realizar una biopsia pleural para el diagnóstico etiológico de los exudados? No.
• PMID: 28433200 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2017 Elsevier España, S.L.U. and Sociedad Española de Medicina Interna (SEMI). All rights reserved.