Needle pleural Biopsy – Its Diagnostic Yield in Malignant Pleural Effusion

Abstract

A prospective study including 25 cases of pleural effusion was conducted in Med. "D" Unit, KTH, Peshawar. History, physical examination and chest radiography confirmed pleural fluid in all cases. Pleural fluid aspiration (thracentesis) and examination (bio-chemical, cytological and bacteriological) was done in all cases. Pleural fluid cytology yielded positive results for malignant cells in only 10 cases. Pleural biopsy was attempted in 18 cases: including all the 10 cases wherein pleural cytology showed malignant cells. Pleural gave positive information in all the 10 cases positive fluid cytology. Further, it also yielded useful information among 5 of the 15 cases where pleural fluid cytology did not showed malignant cells. In 3 cases pleura biopsy was negative, though a malignant growth was found later, on bronchoscopy and biopsy in all the three of them (false negative). There was no false-positive diagnoses, no complications, and no deaths in the series.