Application of flexirigid thoracoscopy in the diagnosis of malignant pleural effusion

Objective:To investigate the diagnostic value of flexirigid thoracoscopy in patients with malignant pleural effusion.Methods:From October 2007 to June 2010,32 patients with malignant pleural effusion were retrospectively reviewed.In these patients,the routine,biochemistry,microbiology and cytology laboratory tests all failed to make the diagnosis.Then these patients received flexirigid thoracoscopy and the diagnosis of cause was identified.Results:In thirty-two patients with malignant pleural effusion,twenty-eight were diagnosed as having lung cancer(twenty-two had adenocarcinoma and six had poorly differentiated carcinoma),two were diagnosed as having lymphoma,and two were diagnosed as having malignant pleuralmesothelioma.No other serious adverse events occurred except for one case with postoperative fever.Conclusion:Flexirigid thoracoscopy is a simple,safe and effective clinical technique in the diagnosis of malignant pleural effusion.When the routine examinations can not identify the pathogenesis of malignant pleural effusion,the thoracoscopy should be applied.