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Objective: In this study, we aimed to share the clinical features and postoperative pathological outcomes of patients who were hospitalized for pleural effusion and underwent Video Assisted Surgery (VATS). Material and Methods: 35 patients who were referred to our thoracic surgery clinic due to pleural effusion between January 2017 and December 2018 were examined retrospectively. Age, sex, pleural biopsy pathologies, pleural fluid cytology and cultures, and the duration of hospitalization were recorded. Results: Of the 35 patients who underwent VATS, 25 (71.43%) were male and 10 (28.57%) were female. The mean age was 61.89. The mean duration of hospitalization was 5.66 days. 18 of the patients in the right hemithorax (51.43%) and 17 patients had pleural effusıon in the (48.57%) left hemithorax. Pleural fluid cytology was benign in 29 patients (82.85%) and malignant in 6 patients (17.15%). Pleural biopsy pathology was reported as benign in 26 patients (74.30%) and as malignant in 9 patients (25.70%). In patients with malignant pleural biopsy; 2 (5.71%) of them were malignant pleural mesothelioma, 4 (11.42%) of them were adenocarcinoma, 2 patients (5.71%) were carcinoma with unknown origin and one (2.85%) of them was Ewing sarcoma. Benign pleural biopsies were as follows; 3 (8.57%) of them were granulomatous inflammation without specified necrosis, 1 (2.85%) was caseating granulomatous inflammation, 20 (57.14%) were nonspecific inflammation and 2 (5.71%) were inflammation resulting with abscess formation. In only one (2.85%) patient, Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture of pleural fluid resulted as positive. Conclusion: VATS procedure can be used safely in patients with pleural effusions for diagnose and to regulate treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of the present study was to determine the diagnostic value of handheld thoracic ultrasound scanning (HH-US) in patients referred to pulmonary outpatient clinic. Methods: Fifty-four patients (44 male, 81.5% and 10 female 18.5%) were included. Ultrasonographic scans were performed by the same pulmonary specialist. Scans were then repeated by a radiology specialist using regular ultrasound scanner. Anteroposterior chest X-ray (AP X-ray) findings, indications for thoracic ultrasound, HH-US findings, regular ultrasound findings, invasive procedures performed with guidance of HH-US, complications, and duration of HH-US scanning were recorded. Results: Pleural effusion, mass lesion in the lung, peripheral solitary pulmonary nodule, consolidation, giant bulla, and axillary metastasis with a central lung lesion were indications for thoracic ultrasound in 40 cases (74%), 5 cases (9.2%), 5 cases (9.2%), 2 cases (3.7%), 1 case (1.8%), and 1 case (1.8%), respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of HH-US in pleural effusions were 81% and 100%, respectively. Conclusion: Pulmonary specialists experienced in thoracic ultrasound can easily utilize HH-US scanners in the diagnosis and treatment of various lung diseases, primarily pleural effusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Procalcitonin (PCT) may lead a more rapid and specific result than other infectious markers in the differentation of infectious diseases from those of noninfectious conditions. In several studies, higher pleural fluid PCT levels in parapneumonic effusion (PPE) than other causes of pleural effusion has been found and it has been reported that it is a useful marker in the diagnosis of PPE. The aim of this study is to investigate the role of pleural fluid PCT levels in the diagnosis of PPE. Materials and Methods: Eighty-seven patients with pleural effusion consisting of 26 transudative pelural effusion, 26 malignant pleural effusion (MPE), 24 PPE and 11 tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE) were enrolled in the study. Results: There was no significant difference between the groups for the pleural fluid PCT, serum PCT and pleural fluid PCT/serum PCT ratio. The patients were divided into transudative and exudative groups and there was no difference in the pleural fluid PCT and serum PCT between these two groups. In the PPE group, the correlation between pleural fluid PCT level and pleural fluid albumin, protein, LDH, glucose and ADA was studied and no correlation was found. Conclusion: In our study, in PPE, a diagnostic efficiacy of pleural fluid and serum PCT could not be found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]