Pleural biopsy: A superior procedure than pleural fluid cytology in diagnosing pleural malignancy

Background: The present study is designed to evaluate the role of pleural fluid cytology and pleural biopsy in diagnosing pleural diseases and to study the advantages and disadvantages of thoracocentasis and pleural biopsy. Materials and Methods: We prospectively included 66 consecutive indoor patients over a duration of 1-year. Pleural fluid was collected, cytological smears were made from the fluid. Plural biopsy was obtained in the same patient by Cope′s needle. Adequate pleural biopsy tissue yielding specific diagnosis was obtained in 47 (71.2%) of cases. Results: Tuberculosis was the commonest nonneoplastic lesion followed by chronic nonspecific pleuritis comprising 60% and 33.3% of the nonneoplastic cases respectively and tuberculosis was predominantly diagnosed in younger age group. Majority (70.8%) of malignancy were in the age group of >50-70. Adenocarcinoma was found to be the commonest (66.7%) malignant neoplasm in the pleurae followed by small cell carcinoma (20.8%). Conclusion: Pleural biopsy is a useful and minimally invasive procedure. It is more sensitive and specific than pleural fluid smears.