Why the study?
Does thoracentesis and pleural biopsy with a Cope's needle accurately diagnose tuberculosis and neoplasia in patients with pleural effusion of unknown origin?
Population
414 patients with pleural effusion of unknown origin
Design
Cohort
Authors
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Supports Cope needle biopsy in undiagnosed effusions; hypothesis-generating and requires prospective validation before practice change.
Does thoracentesis and pleural biopsy with a Cope's needle accurately diagnose tuberculosis and neoplasia in patients with pleural effusion of unknown origin?
Thoracentesis and pleural biopsy with a Cope's needle provides high diagnostic sensitivity and 100% specificity for tuberculosis and neoplasia in patients with pleural effusion of unknown origin, with an 11% complication rate.
Carlos Escudero Bueno (1990) studied this question.
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