Critical analysis of the utility of initial pleural aspiration in the diagnosis and management of suspected malignant pleural effusion.
Rachel Mary MercerRebecca VaratharajahGillian ShepherdQiang LuOlalla Castro-AñónDavid J McCrackenAlexandra DudinaDinesh AddalaStamatoula TsikrikaVineeth GeorgeRadhika BankaRachelle AsciakMaged HassanRobert HallifaxEihab O BedawiJanis Kay ShuteNajib M RahmanPublished in: BMJ open respiratory research (2021)
An initial pleural aspiration does not achieve either definitive diagnosis or therapy in the majority of patients. A new pathway prioritising symptom management while reducing procedures should be considered.