Thoracosocopy by the Flexible Bronchoscope for Lung Cancer with Cytology-negative Pleural Effusion.

概要

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We performed thoracoscopy on lung cancer cases with cytology-negative pleural effusion (examinations for pleural effusion were done more than 2times). Thoracoscopy was performed by flexible bronchoscopes under local anesthesia. Nineteen lung cancer patients with pleural effusion but without metastatic pleural tumor in chest CT were studied. Whose pleural effusion was exudative, lymphocyte dominant, had a low level of ADA, and a negative study of malignant cells in cytological pleural effusion smears. Seventeen patients were untreated lung cancer patients and 2 had been received resection. Histological diagnosis ofmetastasis to pleural cavity were made in 11 of untreated lung cancer patients and in one of the resected patients. Of the 6 cases of non-spesific inflammation no accumulation of pleural effusion was observed after only drainage. Although there is the exception of non-hemorrhagic and non-exudative effusion, pleural effusion of lung cancer are treated as malignant effusion, even in the cases whose effusion are negative for malignant cells. Thoracoscopy by the flexible bronchoscope is a simple procedure without major side effects, using equipment which pulmonary physicians are most accustomed to. The examination enables us to make correct staging for lung cancer.
特定非営利活動法人日本肺癌学会の論文