Closed pleural biopsy and fluid cytology in the diagnosis of suspected pulmonary cancer with pleural involvement.

In a retrospective study of 44 cases of suspected primary pulmonary cancer with pleural involvement, the diagnostic value of pleural biopsy a.m. Abrams was evaluated. Biopsy specimens in 20 patients showed malignancy, which in 16 cases provided an adequate diagnosis, while 4 patients needed pleural biopsy by means of operation. In a total of 24 cases showing biopsy specimens without malignancy there were 4 false-negative ones. Among the patients under study, closed pleural biopsy combined with pleural fluid cytology proved malignancy in 96% of the cases in which neoplastic disease of the lungs and pleura was otherwise diagnosed. These findings indicate the value of using both fluid cytology and closed pleural biopsy at an early stage of the diagnostic procedure in cases of suspected pulmonary cancer with pleural involvement.