Medical Thoracoscopy

Abstract Background Medical thoracoscopy (MT) is recommended in patients with undiagnosed exudative pleural effusion and offers a degree of diagnostic sensitivity for pleural malignancy. However, not all patients who undergo MT receive an exact diagnosis. Our previous investigation from 2014 summarized the long-term outcomes of these patients with nonspecific pleurisy (NSP); now, we offer updated data with the goal of refining our conclusions. Methods Between July 2005 and August 2018, MT with pleural biopsies were performed in a total of 1,254 patients with undiagnosed pleural effusions. One hundred fifty-four patients diagnosed with NSP with available follow-up data were included in the present study, and their medical records were reviewed. Results A total of 154 patients were included in this study with a mean follow-up duration of 61.5 ± 43.7 months (range: 1–180 months). No specific diagnosis was established in 67 (43.5%) of the patients. Nineteen patients (12.3%) were subsequently diagnosed with pleural malignancies. Sixty-eight patients (44.2%) were diagnosed with benign diseases. Findings of pleural nodules or plaques during MT and the recurrence of pleural effusion were associated with malignant disease. Conclusions Although most NSP patients received a diagnosis of a benign disease, malignant disease was still a possibility, especially in those patients with nodules or plaques as noted on the MT and a recurrence of pleural effusion. One year of clinical follow-up for NSP patients is likely sufficient. These updated results further confirm our previous study’s conclusions.

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Unusual case of malignant pleural mesothelioma

BMJ Case Reports ◽

10.1136/bcr-2021-243803 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (7) ◽

pp. e243803

Author(s):

Timothy Johanan Rajaratnam ◽

Jurgen Herre

Keyword(s):

Computed Tomography ◽

Unusual Case ◽

Ct Scans ◽

Pleural Mesothelioma ◽

Pleural Effusions ◽

Multidisciplinary Team Meeting ◽

Distal Oesophagus ◽

Medical Thoracoscopy ◽

Supportive Management ◽

Progressive Dysphagia

We present the case of a 65-year-old woman who presented with progressive dysphagia and was diagnosed with achalasia. She subsequently developed bilateral chylous pleural effusions, with no cause identified despite extensive investigations (including computed tomography (CT) scans, gastroscopy and medical thoracoscopy (MT)) and review at a dedicated pleural multidisciplinary team meeting.Despite optimal supportive management she deteriorated and was admitted to the intensive care unit, where she passed away due to sepsis and respiratory failure 10 months after initial presentation. A postmortem returned a diagnosis of epithelioid mesothelioma, encasing the carina, distal oesophagus and coeliac axis.Mesothelioma only very rarely presents with either chylous effusions or achalasia. Additionally while MT normally conveys excellent sensitivity for pleural malignancy, it was insufficient here. This case highlights how an unusually located mesothelioma can produce an unusual clinical picture. It also suggests a role for early video-assisted thoracoscopy to aid diagnosis.

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Pleuroscopy early experience in the exudative pleural effusion of unknown etiology

Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews ◽

10.2174/2211556010666210728125810 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 17 ◽

Author(s):

Atefeh Fakharian ◽

Hamidreza Jabbardarjani ◽

Mohamad Reza Masjedi ◽

Masoud Shamaei

Keyword(s):

Pleural Effusion ◽

Previous History ◽

Invasive Procedure ◽

Therapeutic Interventions ◽

Unknown Etiology ◽

Safe Procedure ◽

Pathologic Diagnosis ◽

Medical Thoracoscopy ◽

History Of ◽

Exudative Pleural Effusion

Background: Pleuroscopy (medical thoracoscopy) is a minimally invasive procedure to inspect and perform a biopsy of the pleural space as well as to perform therapeutic interventions; pleural fluid drainage and pleurodesis. Material and Methods: In a retrospective study in Kasra Hospital, Tehran-Iran, the patients with exudative pleural effusion of unknown etiology who underwent pleuroscopy, were evaluated. These patients had negative smear and culture for infective agents. Also, the cytological review was negative for malignancy. Results: 62 patients had undergone pleuroscopy, of which 29 (46.7) were men. After the final evaluation, 47 patients (75.8%) had a definite pathologic diagnosis, of which 39 (82.9%) were cancer. Through these 39 cases, 18 cases (46.1%) had a history of the previously confirmed cancer, in which pleural pathology was consistent with the initial diagnosis. In 21 cases (53.9%), metastatic cancers were detected without a previous history. From a total of 47 cases with definite pathologic diagnosis, 8 cases (17%) had histopathologic evidence of granulomatous lesions consistent with tuberculosis and 15 patients (24%) showed non-specific inflammatory lesions. There was no morbidity and mortality among these patients. Discussion: Considering that pleuroscopy is a safe procedure with high diagnostic accuracy, malignancy is the most finding in the exudative pleural effusion of unknown etiology. This increases the importance of this procedure in these cases to prevent wasting the time and smear-negative anti-TB treatment.

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