31Dec 2016

THE EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF MEDICAL THORACOSCOPY IN DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS OF PLEURAL EFFUSIONS.

  • MD, Pamukkale University Medicine Faculty Chest Disease Department, Denizli, Turkey.
  • MD, Prof. Dr. Pamukkale University Medicine Faculty Chest Disease Department, Denizli, Turkey.
  • MD, Servergazi Hospital Chest Disease Deparment, Denizli, Turkey.
  • MD, Prof. Dr. Liv Hospital Thoracic Surgery Clinic, ?stanbul, Turkey.
Crossref Cited-by Linking logo
  • Abstract
  • Keywords
  • Cite This Article as
  • Corresponding Author

Objectives: Medical thoracoscopy is an investigational and sometimes a therapeutic procedure for pleural diseases indicated to diagnose the pleural effusions remains non-diagnostic after using less invasive techniques. The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of medical thoracoscopy in differential diagnosis of pleural effusions. Methods: This is a retrospective observational study. Fifty consecutive patients had thoracoscopy between June 2007 and June 2009. Results: Mean age was 64±10 years and 64% of the patients was male. Malignancy was diagnosed in 24 (48%) of all thoracoscopies. Adenocarcinoma was diagnosed in 15 (31%), other malignancies in 5 (10%) and malignant mesothelioma in 4 (8%) patients. Pleural biopsies revealed chronic nonspecific pleuritis in 19 (38%) patients, granulomatous inflammation in 1 (2%) patients. The procedure was considered non-diagnostic in 4 (8%) patients. There was no major complication, but minor complications in 5 patients (10%); 3 minimal expansion defects, 1 remarkable but transient subcutaneous emphysema and 1 empyema. Conclusion: In conclusion, selecting patients in whom less invasive methods were unsuccessful or patients who have strong possibility for malignancy might increase the diagnostic and therapeutic yield of the thoracoscopy in respiratory medicine practice. It is an efficient and safe procedure.


[Erhan Ugurlu, Goksel Altinisik, Ali ?hsan Yildiz and Gokhan Yuncu. (2016); THE EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF MEDICAL THORACOSCOPY IN DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS OF PLEURAL EFFUSIONS. Int. J. of Adv. Res. 4 (Dec). 2241-2248] (ISSN 2320-5407). www.journalijar.com


Erhan UGURLU
Pamukkale University, Medical Faculty, Department of Pulmonology Denizli, Turkey

DOI:


Article DOI: 10.21474/IJAR01/2642      
DOI URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.21474/IJAR01/2642