Abstract
We evaluated clinical, efficacy of pleural biopsy to make a diagnosis in pleurisy, com- paring to the other examination sucli as examination of pleural effusion (ADA activity, tumor marker, cytology, bacteriology) and sputum examination. The diagnostic rate of pleural biopsy in tuberculous pleurisy was 42% and the diagnostic rate of pleural biopsy in carcinomatous pleuritis was . 36. 80. Theses;values were not high. The diagnostic rate in tuberculous pleurisy was high in order of ADA activity in effusion, pleural biopsy, bacteriological examination of sputum, bacteriological examination of effusion.
The diagnostic rate in carcinomatous pleuritis was high in order of tumor marker in pleural effusion, cytology of sputum pleural biopsy and cytology of effusion. The pleural biopsy is an easy procedure, however it is a rather blind procedure. This is a limitation of this procedure. Use of adjunctive examination such as radioisotope examination and ultrasonic examination will be helpful to make a diagnosis concomitant with pleural biopsy after the location of the lesions is determined. In the future, pleural biopsy under thorac- oscopy will make a complete diagnosis.
