Is there any role for thoracoscopy in the diagnosis of benign pleural effusions

Abstract

Thoracoscopy in the endoscopy suite, has a high diagnostic yield of undiagnosed pleural effusions with minimal and mild complications. Whereas relatively minimal invasive techniques, such as thoracentesis, image-guided pleural biopsy or blind pleural biopsy, can yield sufficient cell or tissue material to establish the diagnosis of the underlying condition, more definite invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedure, such as thoracoscopy, may be required for accurate sampling and diagnosis, and further provide real-time treatment options in same procedure. If thoracoscopy is considered the gold standard for the diagnosis is a fact in case. The current review aims to provide informations on thoracoscopy indications in benign pleural diseases according to up to date publications.

Keywords: benign pleural effusion; empyema medical thoracoscopy; pleural infections; tuberculous pleural effusion.