Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

Patients with an unexplained pleural effusion often require urgent investigation. Clinical practice varies due to uncertainty as to whether an effusion should be drained completely before diagnostic imaging. We performed a retrospective study of patients undergoing medical thoracoscopy for an unexplained effusion. In 110 patients with paired (pre- and post-drainage) chest X-rays and 32 patients with paired computed tomography scans, post-drainage imaging did not provide additional information that would have influenced the clinical decision-making process.

Original publication

DOI

10.1111/resp.12675

Type

Journal article

Journal

Respirology

Publication Date

02/2016

Volume

21

Pages

392 - 395

Keywords

chest tube, malignant pleural effusion, pleural disease, pleural effusion, thoracic radiology, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Drainage, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Pleural Effusion, Postoperative Period, Preoperative Period, Retrospective Studies, Thoracoscopy, Tomography, X-Ray Computed