Outcome of patients with nonspecific pleuritis at thoracoscopy
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The histological finding of pleural inflammation (pleuritis/fibrosis) is frequently found in pleural biopsies taken at thoracoscopy. This is a nonspecific finding, representing a common endpoint of many pleural conditions. Additional features, such as malignant cells, caseating gr...
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| Format: | Journal article |
| Language: | English |
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2011
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| _version_ | 1826269932120178688 |
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| author | Wrightson, J Davies, H |
| author_facet | Wrightson, J Davies, H |
| author_sort | Wrightson, J |
| collection | OXFORD |
| description | PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The histological finding of pleural inflammation (pleuritis/fibrosis) is frequently found in pleural biopsies taken at thoracoscopy. This is a nonspecific finding, representing a common endpoint of many pleural conditions. Additional features, such as malignant cells, caseating granulomas and evidence of vasculitis, are required to make an aetiological histological diagnosis; in the absence of these features, the term 'nonspecific pleuritis/fibrosis' (NSP) is used. The cause of NSP is obscure and presents a particular dilemma: whether this apparently benign result represents a 'false-negative' sampling error in malignancy. RECENT FINDINGS: In a recent longitudinal follow-up study of 142 patients undergoing thoracoscopy, NSP was found in 31%. Of these, a likely cause for the NSP was found in 38% and malignancy occurred in 12%. These data were consistent with previous studies. SUMMARY: NSP is a histological diagnosis made in approximately 30-40% of patients with an undiagnosed exudative pleural effusion. The majority of cases adopt a benign course, although 8-12% may be subsequently found to have malignancy, particularly mesothelioma. In 25-91% no cause for the NSP is found; these patients are considered to have 'idiopathic pleuritis'. Prolonged follow-up, with occasionally further (usually more invasive) biopsies, is essential to rule out malignancy. © 2011 Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, Inc. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-06T21:32:56Z |
| format | Journal article |
| id | oxford-uuid:4548cde9-e95c-4152-97aa-8b64654af9e9 |
| institution | University of Oxford |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-06T21:32:56Z |
| publishDate | 2011 |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | oxford-uuid:4548cde9-e95c-4152-97aa-8b64654af9e92022-03-26T15:06:53ZOutcome of patients with nonspecific pleuritis at thoracoscopyJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:4548cde9-e95c-4152-97aa-8b64654af9e9EnglishSymplectic Elements at Oxford2011Wrightson, JDavies, HPURPOSE OF REVIEW: The histological finding of pleural inflammation (pleuritis/fibrosis) is frequently found in pleural biopsies taken at thoracoscopy. This is a nonspecific finding, representing a common endpoint of many pleural conditions. Additional features, such as malignant cells, caseating granulomas and evidence of vasculitis, are required to make an aetiological histological diagnosis; in the absence of these features, the term 'nonspecific pleuritis/fibrosis' (NSP) is used. The cause of NSP is obscure and presents a particular dilemma: whether this apparently benign result represents a 'false-negative' sampling error in malignancy. RECENT FINDINGS: In a recent longitudinal follow-up study of 142 patients undergoing thoracoscopy, NSP was found in 31%. Of these, a likely cause for the NSP was found in 38% and malignancy occurred in 12%. These data were consistent with previous studies. SUMMARY: NSP is a histological diagnosis made in approximately 30-40% of patients with an undiagnosed exudative pleural effusion. The majority of cases adopt a benign course, although 8-12% may be subsequently found to have malignancy, particularly mesothelioma. In 25-91% no cause for the NSP is found; these patients are considered to have 'idiopathic pleuritis'. Prolonged follow-up, with occasionally further (usually more invasive) biopsies, is essential to rule out malignancy. © 2011 Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, Inc. |
| spellingShingle | Wrightson, J Davies, H Outcome of patients with nonspecific pleuritis at thoracoscopy |
| title | Outcome of patients with nonspecific pleuritis at thoracoscopy |
| title_full | Outcome of patients with nonspecific pleuritis at thoracoscopy |
| title_fullStr | Outcome of patients with nonspecific pleuritis at thoracoscopy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Outcome of patients with nonspecific pleuritis at thoracoscopy |
| title_short | Outcome of patients with nonspecific pleuritis at thoracoscopy |
| title_sort | outcome of patients with nonspecific pleuritis at thoracoscopy |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT wrightsonj outcomeofpatientswithnonspecificpleuritisatthoracoscopy AT daviesh outcomeofpatientswithnonspecificpleuritisatthoracoscopy |