What is the role of a medical thoracoscopy (pleuroscopy) in the workup of pleural effusion of unknown origin?

Answer

Pleural Effusion of Unknown Origin

Cytologic examination of pleural fluid is only diagnostic in 60-80% of patients with metastatic pleural involvement and in less than 20% in patients with mesothelioma.^[3]In cases for which the initial evaluation of a pleural effusion is nondiagnostic and malignancy is suspected, medical thoracoscopy and parietal pleural biopsy should be considered.^[4]Medical thoracoscopy with pleural biopsy, as shown in the image below, establishes a diagnosis in more than 90% of the cases.^[5]

Biopsy forceps sampling parietal pleura.

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Media Gallery

Biopsy forceps sampling parietal pleura.
Talc pleurodesis on lung and parietal pleura.
Bulky metastasis on parietal pleura.
Examination for evidence of metastasis.
Pleural adhesions on medical thoracoscopy.
Patient positioning for medical thoracoscopy.
Trocar insertion for medical thoracoscopy.
Insertion of semirigid scope through trocar.
Olympus semirigid pleuroscope.
Olympus semirigid pleuroscope.
Olympus semirigid pleuroscope.
Semirigid pleuroscope in extension.
Semirigid pleuroscope in flexion.
Semirigid pleuroscope in neutral position.

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Author

Rajiv Malhotra, DO, MS, FCCP Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University; Medical Director of Cardiac Surgery ICU, Associate Fellowship Director of Interventional Pulmonology, Virginia Commonwealth University Health System

Rajiv Malhotra, DO, MS, FCCP is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for Bronchology and Interventional Pulmonology, American College of Chest Physicians, International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation, Society of Critical Care Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Cecilia C Bergh, MD Fellow in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Hans J Lee, MD Assistant Professor of Medicine, Director of Pleural Disease Services, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Hans J Lee, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for Bronchology and Interventional Pulmonology, American College of Chest Physicians, American Thoracic Society, Association of Interventional Pulmonary Fellowship Directors

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Ray W Shepherd, MD Associate Professor of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine; Staff Physician, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center

Ray W Shepherd, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Chest Physicians, American Thoracic Society, Christian Medical and Dental Associations, American Association for Bronchology and Interventional Pulmonology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Zab Mosenifar, MD, FACP, FCCP Geri and Richard Brawerman Chair in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Professor and Executive Vice Chairman, Department of Medicine, Medical Director, Women's Guild Lung Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, University of California, Los Angeles, David Geffen School of Medicine

Zab Mosenifar, MD, FACP, FCCP is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Physicians, American Federation for Medical Research, American Thoracic Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

What is the role of a medical thoracoscopy (pleuroscopy) in the workup of pleural effusion of unknown origin?

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