• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.374-380
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• 1986

From June 1983 to September 1984, the pleural biopsies with Cope needle were performed at department of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery, Pusan Paik Hospital, Inje college, on 78 patients for exudative pleural effusion caused by various conditions. These results were analyzed clinically and summarized as follows: 2. The accuracy of pleural biopsy was 69.2% [54 of 78 patients]. The accuracy represented by ratio for the number of biopsy was 63.5% [54 of 85 biopsies]. 3. Among 61 patients of tuberculosis or malignancy, 37 [60.7%] were confirmed by pleural biopsy. 4. Tuberculosis was diagnosed in 48 patients, in 26[54.2%] out of these by pleural biopsy alone, in 3[6.2%] by pleural biopsy and isolation of AFB, in 2[4.2%] by pleural biopsy and operation, in 4[8.3%] by isolation of AFB, in 2[4.2%] by operation, and in 11[22.9%] clinically. 5. Among 13 patients of malignancy, 4[30.8%] were diagnosed by cytology alone, 4[30.8%] by pleural biopsy and cytology alone, 4[30.8%] by pleural biopsy and cytology, 1[7.7%] by pleural biopsy alone, 1[7.7%] by pleural biopsy and operation, and remained 3 by operation, lymph node biopsy, or bronchoscopy respectively. 6. False positive of clinical diagnosis was 12.5% for tuberculosis and 28.6% for malignancy. In pathological diagnosis there was no false positive. So specificity of pleural biopsy was very high. But false negative of pleural biopsy was 29.2% for tuberculosis and 46.2% for malignancy. 7. 4 cases[5.1%] of minimal pneumothorax were in the early series.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.124-128
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• 2014

Background: A closed pleural biopsy is commonly performed for diagnosing patients exhibiting pleural effusion if prior thoracentesis is not diagnostic. However, the diagnostic yield of such biopsies is unsatisfactory. Instead, a thoracoscopic pleural biopsy is more useful and less painful. Methods: We compared the diagnostic yield of needle thoracoscopic pleural biopsy performed under local anesthesia with that of closed pleural biopsy. Sixty-seven patients with pleural effusion were randomized into groups A and B. Group A patients were subjected to closed pleural biopsies, and group B patients were subjected to pleural biopsies performed using needle thoracoscopy under local anesthesia. Results: The diagnostic yields and complication rates of the two groups were compared. The diagnostic yield was 55.6% in group A and 93.5% in group B (p<0.05). Procedure-related complications developed in seven group A patients but not in any group B patients. Of the seven complications, five were pneumothorax and two were vasovagal syncope. Conclusion: Needle thoracoscopic pleural biopsy under local anesthesia is a simple and safe procedure that has a high diagnostic yield. This procedure is recommended as a useful diagnostic modality if prior thoracentesis is non-diagnostic.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.899-906
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• 1997

Background : The percutaneous pleural needle biopsy have been regarded as cornerstone in the diagnosis of lymphocyte dominant pleural effusions of which acid fast bacilli smear and cytologic exam was negative. However, the complications of percutaneous pleural needle biopsy is not rare and its diagnostic efficacy is not always satisfactory. Recently, pleural fluid adenosine deaminase (ADA) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) are widely accepted as markers of tuberculous pleurisy and malignant pleural effusion respectively. We designed this study to re-evaluate the role of percutaneous pleural needle biopsy in the diagnosis of lymphocyte dominant exudative pleural effusions whose AFB smear, cytologic exam was negative. Method : Retrospective analysis of 73 cases of percutaneous pleural needle biopsy in case of lymphocyte dominant exudative pleural effusions whose AFB smear and cytoloic exam was negative from Jan 1994 to Feb 1996 was done. Result : In 35 cases, specific diagnosis was obtained(all cases were tuberculous pleurisy), and in 30 cases specific diagnosis was not obtained in spite of getting adequate pleural tissues, and in the other 8 cases, percutaneous pleural biopsy failed to get pleural tissues. In 9 cases, complications were combined including pneuomothorax and hemothorax. All 49 cases of pleural effusions whose ADA value was higher than 40IU/L and satisfying other categories were finally diagnosed as tuberculous pleurisy, however, the pleural biopsy confirmed only 28 cases as tuberculous pleurisy. In 6 cases of pleural effusions of which CEA value is higher than 10ng/ml, the pleural biopsy made specific diagnosis in no case. Final diagnosis of above 6 cases consisted of 4 malignant effusions, 1 malignancy associated effusion and 1 tuberculous pleurisy. Conclusion : In the diagnosis of 73 cases of lymphocyte dominant pleural effusions of which acid fast bacilli smear and cytologic exam was negative, percutaneous pleural biopsy diagnosed only in 35 cases. In the diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy, the positive predictive value of higher ADA than 40 IU/L in lymphocyte dominant pleural effusion with negative AFB smear and negative cytologic exam was 100%. And the diagnostic efficacy of pleural biopsy was 57%. In cases of effusions with high CEA than 10ng/ml 83% and 0% respectively. Finally, we concluded that percutaneous pleural needle biopsy in the diagnosis of AFB smear negative and cytologic exam negative lymphocyte dominant exudative pleural effusion was not obligatory. especially in effusions with high ADA and low CEA value.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.298-302
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• 1993

The 40 patients who admitted with chief complaints of pleural effusion and were performed closed thoracostomy and pleural biopsy at the same time with only one incision during the period from Mar,1990. To Feb. 1992. At the department of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery; HanYang University were reviewed retrospectively and the results are as follows: 1. The age of patients ranged from 16 to 73-years old [Mean 44.3-years old]. The peak incidence was fifth decade [25 %] and the next was third decades [22.5 %]. 2. 28 patients were male and 12 patients were female with male preponderance[More than 2 times]. 3. The etiologic of pleural effusion were 25 cases of pulmonary tuberculosis[62.5 %], 8 cases of empyema [20 %], and 7 cases of malignant diseases [17.5 %]. 4. The most common chief complaints were dyspnea[21 cases:29.2%], chest discomfort[16 cases:22.2%], and the coughing with sputum [12 cases: 16.7 %]. 5. The duration of symptom were varied from 3 days to lyear [Mean 3.2 weeks]. 6. The amounts of drained pleural effusion after closed thoracostomy were ranged from 100ml to 2,400 ml [Mean 650 ml], but the amounts in case of malignant pleural effusion were varied from 400ml to 1,700ml [Mean 950ml]. 7. The diagnostic rate was 84.6 % with routine examination of tuberculous pleural effusion [Lymphocyte predominance] and the same rate was acquired by pleural biopsy. 8. The diagnostic rate by pleural biopsy in case of malignant pleural effusion was 57.1% and lower than tuberculous pleural effusion. 9. The etiology of malignant pleural effusion were squamous cell carcinoma [3 cases:42.8 %], adenocarcinoma [2 cases:28.6 %] and metasiatic breast cancer [1 case:14.3%].

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.584-594
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• 1993

Background: Among the respiratory diseases, there are a lot of cases of pleural effusion. The most common cause is tuberculosis. But the other cause such as lung malignancy is in an increasing tendency because of the development of diagnostic procedure, the decrease of the prevalence of the tuberculosis and the increase of the longevity. We need to know the accurate diagnosis as soon as possible for the correct therapy. Method: A clinical observation was made on 315 cases of pleural effusion seen at Pusan Adventist Hospital, from Jan, 1989 to Dec, 1992. For diagnostic procedure, thoracentesis, lymph node biopsy, bronchoscopy and percutaneous biopsy of the parietal pleura with Cope needle were performed. The following are parameters used in seperating the exudate from the transudate: pleural protein 3.0 g/dl, pleural protein/serum protein ratio 0.5, pleural LDH 200 IU, pleural LDH/serum LDH ratio 0.6, pleural cholesterol 60 mg/dl and pleural cholesterol/serum cholesterol ratio 0.3. Each parameters were compared, and misclassified rate and diagnostic efficiency were calculated. Results: The most common cause of exudate pleurisy was tuberculosis (82.3%) and malignancy was next (12.2%). The chief complaints of pleural effusion were noted as dyspnea (58.7%), chest pain (54.9%), coughing (50.2%) and fever (36.2%). Location of pleural effusion was noted as right side (51.4%), left side (41.3%) and both sides (7.3%). Amount of pleural effusion of the chest X-ray was minimum (46.8%), moderate (40.5%) and maximum (12.7%). Misclassified rates for each parameters in seperating the exudates from the transudates were as follows; protein: 5.2%, pleural protein/serum protein:7.6%, LDH: 13.9%, pleural LDH/serum LDH: 6.9%, cholesterol: 8.0%, pleural cholesterol/serum cholesterol: 5.6%. On the pleural biopsy, the tuberculosis granuloma was 60.8%, malignancy was 13.6%, infection was 2.3% and nonspecific inflammatory reaction was 23.3%. Conclusion: on the basis of the above results, the most common cause of exudative pleurisy was tuberculosis. We think that the plerual cholesterol/serum cholesterol ratio is the most useful supportive parameter in separating the exudates from the transudates. For accurate diagnosis, the pleural biopsy is the first procedure and repeated pleural biopsy of nonspedcific inflammatory reaction is required.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.78 no.3
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• pp.297-301
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• 2015

Malignant mesothelioma is a rare malignant neoplasm that arises from mesothelial surfaces of the pleural cavity, peritoneal cavity, tunica vaginalis, or pericardium. Typically, pleural fluid cytology or closed pleural biopsy, surgical intervention (video thoracoscopic biopsy or open thoracotomy) is conducted to obtain pleural tissue specimens. However, endobronchial lesions are rarely seen and cases diagnosed from bronchoscopic biopsy are also rarely reported. We reported the case of a 77-year-old male who was diagnosed as malignant mesothelioma on bronchoscopic biopsy from obstructing masses of the endobronchial lesion.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.74 no.3
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• pp.124-128
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• 2013

Pleural effusion is a rare complication in non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection. We report a case of Mycobacterium intracellulare pleuritis with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in a 69-year-old man presenting with dyspnea. Pleural effusion revealed lymphocyte dominant exudate. M. intracellulare was identified using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method and liquid cultures of pleural effusion and pleural biopsy. After combination therapy for M. intracellulare pulmonary disease, the patient was clinically well at a 1-month follow-up.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.840-843
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• 1985

Pleural mesothelioma which arise from pleura is relatively uncommon tumor. We are reporting 2 cases of pleural mesothelioma which were treated with surgical resection. First case, benign epithelial mesothelioma was confirmed incidentally after decortication due to localized pleural thickening. The second case, malignant mesothelial mesothelioma was diagnosed by examination of chest radiology, diagnostic pneumogram and pleural biopsy as malignancy which was treated with the resection of the tumor mass. In the first case, postoperative recurrence of tumor growth was found within 1.5 months after resection. In the section malignant case, no evidence of recurrence was noted even after 3 months of resection.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.63 no.3
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• pp.268-272
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• 2007

A tuberculous pleural effusion may be a sequel to a primary infection or represent the reactivation of pulmonary tuberculosis. It is believed to result from a rupture of a subpleural caseous focus in the lung into the pleural space. It appears that delayed hypersensitivity plays a large role in the pathogenesis of a tuberculous pleural effusion. We encountered a 52 years old man with pleural effusion that developed several days after a CT guided percutaneous needle biopsy of a solitary pulmonary nodule. He was diagnosed with TB pleurisy. It is believed that his pleural effusion probably developed due to exposure of the parenchymal tuberculous focus into the pleural space during the percutaneous needle biopsy. This case might suggest one of the possible pathogeneses of tuberculous pleural effusion.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.33 no.8
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• pp.669-675
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• 2000

Background: Tuberculous pleurisy is the leading cause of pleural effusion in Korea. And differential diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy with other cause is clinically very important. Traditional diagnostic methods such as routine analysis of pleural fluid, staining for acid-fast bacilli or pleural biopsy have major inherent limitaion. This study was designed to evaluate the significance of pleural fluid polymerase chain reaction(PCR) and adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity in early diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy. Material and Method: Between March 1996 and July 1997, 198 patients with pleural effusion reviewed retrospectively. The study group included 112 cases with tuberculous effusion and 86 cases with non-tuberculous effusions, whose diagnoses were confirmed by pleural biopsy, microbiological methods, or cytology. We compared the results of PCR and pleural fluid levels of ADA between tuberculous and non-tuberculous effusions. Result: Mean age was 47.54$\pm$19.52 years(range 2 to 85 years). The positive rate of PCR was significantly higher in tuberculous group than non-tuberculous group(p<0.05). The sensitivty, specificity, positive predictive value(PPV), and negative predictive value(NPV) for PCR were 31.7, 90.9, 83.0, and 48.8%, respectively. Mean ADA activity was significantly higher in tuberculous group than non-tuberculous group(83.2 U/L vs 49.8 U/L)(p<0.05). With diagnostic thresholds of 40 U/L, the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of ADA for tuberculosis were 75.9, 70.9, 77.3, and 69.3% respectively. At a level of 70 U/L, the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of ADA for tuberculosis were 70.1, 75.9, 82.9, and 60.3% respectively. Conclusion: PCR is very highly specific, but less sensitive methods in diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy. But ADA level of pleural fluid has acceptable sensitivity and specificity in diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy. ADA activity is more useful test in the evaluation of pleural effusions.