Pleural Biopsy Research Articles

Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra as a diagnostic tool for pleural tuberculosis: a study at Indian tertiary care centre.

Despite the advent of Xpert MTB/RIF, pleural tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis in pleural fluid is still difficult. Hence, we assessed the diagnostic efficacy of its advanced version, Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra for pleural TB diagnosis using pleural fluid as sample. Tuberculosis pleuritis (TBP) suspects (n=261) were enrolled in the study of which 29 were excluded. The remaining patients (n=232) were categorized into definite TBP (n=31), probable TBP (n=28), and non-TB controls (n=173) based on composite reference standard consisting of smear, culture, histopathology, and Xpert MTB/RIF as well as follow up/clinical response to anti-tuberculosis therapy. Among the TBP suspects, 59 were diagnosed as TBP patients. The sensitivity of Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra (52.5%) using pleural fluid for TBP diagnosis was higher than sensitivity obtained with smear (22.4%), culture (17.6%), and Xpert MTB/RIF (25%) alone, carried using either pleural fluid or pleural biopsy or both the samples. In cases of probable TBP, where none of the laboratory tests were positive, Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra use led to an increased diagnostic percentage of definite TBP from 52.5% to 69.4% Overall, the Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra showed promising results for a definitive diagnosis of TBP in pleural fluid samples.

Comprehensive analysis of surgical strategies and prognosis for non-small cell lung cancer with pleural metastasis detected intraoperatively

Background and objectivesLung cancer is one of the prevailing malignancies worldwide. Surgical interventions hold an important position in the treatment framework for lung cancer. Pleural metastasis is often assumed to be a surgical contraindication, but not all instances of pleural metastasis can be accurately identified before surgery. The question of how to address pleural metastasis detected intraoperatively is still undecided.MethodsThis retrospective study included 187 lung cancer patients who underwent surgery from 2005 to 2017 in whom pleural metastasis was discovered incidentally during the operation. Data on demographic, surgical, pathological, postoperative treatment, and survival information were collected for further analysis.ResultsFor patients with intraoperatively detected pleural metastasis, two independent protective prognostic factors were receiving primary tumor resection (compared to only receiving pleural nodule biopsy, HR = 0.079, p = 0.022) and receiving postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy (HR = 0.081, p < 0.001). Simultaneously, performing systematic lymph node dissection during primary tumor resection was found to be detrimental to long-term prognosis (HR = 2.375, p = 0.044). However, the resection of pleural metastatic lesions did not significantly impact patient prognosis.ConclusionOur study supports the implementation of major tumor resection in patients with pleural metastasis detected intraoperatively but not lymph node dissection or the resection of pleural metastatic lesions. Postoperative chemotherapy is also necessary.

Unveiling the Rarity: Pleural Metastasis of Papillary Thyroid Cancer – A Case Report and Clinical Implications

Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is an epithelial malignancy arising from the follicular cells within the thyroid, typically slow-growing with a benign course (5-year survival &gt;99% in locally contained malignancies). However, in unusual cases, this condition can spread to the pleura, leading to a malignant pleural effusion. The authors present a case of an 80-year-old female presenting with dyspnoea following treatment for suspected bacterial pneumonia. Imaging revealed a substantial left-sided pleural effusion. Despite interventions such as thoracentesis and intravenous antibiotics, the pleural effusion persisted. Subsequent video-assisted thoracic surgery revealed pleural biopsies positive for PTC, a disease previously believed to have been cured almost 6 decades ago. Pleural involvement in patients with PTC is exceptionally rare. A literature review conducted between 1992–2023 revealed merely seven published reports documenting PTC metastasis to the pleura. The authors’ case emphasises the significance of exploring various potential causes of a patient showing signs of subacute dyspnoea, particularly in individuals previously diagnosed with PTC, as it emphasises the possibilities of unforeseen recurrence, featuring the uncertainties and complexities of managing PTC.

High endothelial venules in the pleura: MECA-79 expression in mesothelioma, pleural metastasis and pleuritis

IntroductionHigh endothelial venules (HEVs) are vessels specialized in the extravasation of lymphocytes from the blood to the tissue implicated in the immune microenvironment of several tumors. Their presence has been never studied in the pleural tissue. Material and methodsWe retrospectively studied 149 surgical pleural biopsies by immunohistochemistry for MECA-79 expression, a marker specifically recognizing HEVs. The tissues included 44 (44 %) inflammatory and 105 (56 %) neoplastic diseases. The latter corresponded to 34 (22.8 %) mesotheliomas and 71 (47.7 %) metastases from lung (n=50) or breast (n=21) primaries. ResultsHEVs were present in 102 (68 %) of all pleural specimens with a mean number of foci containing HEVs of 13.33 (±20.64). Neoplastic pleural pathologies harbored HEVs in 73.3 % of the cases compared to the non-neoplastic pathologies which harbored HEVs in 56.8 % of the cases (p=0.048). Their presence did not differ between pulmonary or mammary metastasis (p=0.7). ConclusionWe show for the first time that HEVs are present in the pleural cavity probably participating in the immune microenvironment of inflammatory and neoplastic pleural disease.

Prise en charge diagnostique et thérapeutique du mésothéliome pleural en 2024

Pleural mesothelioma (PM) is a quite rare tumor, usually due to previous asbestos exposure. Its global prognosis is poor, without validated curative treatment to date. Diagnosis relies ideally on thoracoscopy with pleural biopsies, ± combined with (immediate) talc pleurodesis. Surgery with curative intent, included with multimodal treatment and restrained to highly selected patients, was recently rechallenged. As frontline treatment, standard pemetrexed/platinum-based chemotherapy was lightly improved by addition of bevacizumab. It is currently challenged by the immunotherapy combination of Nivolumab + Ipilimumab, and perhaps soon by combinations of chemotherapy + immunotherapy. No standard treatment is firmly validated beyond first line treatment, even if anti-PD-1/PD-L1 ± anti-CTLA-4 checkpoint inhibitors also exhibited some interesting results in this setting, in phase II and III clinical trials. Therefore, the search of new treatments, strategies and biomarkers is a crucial goal, and recruitment of patients in clinical trials strongly encouraged. Other immunotherapies alone or combined with standard treatments and/or targeted therapies, multimodal strategies are currently assessed. In France, the national network of expert centers for PM management, “NETMESO” (labelled by INCa), aims at proposing an optimal management to all patients systematically discussed in regional (± national) MTB dedicated to PM, and at stimulating clinical and translational research in collaboration with its partners including patients advocating associations.1877-1203/© 2024 SPLF. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Rapid On-Site Histology of Lung and Pleural Biopsies Using Higher Harmonic Generation Microscopy and Artificial Intelligence Analysis

Lung cancer is one of the most prevalent and lethal cancers. To improve health outcomes while reducing health care burden, it becomes crucial to move toward early detection and cost-effective workflows. Currently, there is no method for the on-site rapid histologic feedback on biopsies taken in diagnostic, endoscopic, or surgical procedures. Higher harmonic generation (HHG) microscopy is a laser-based technique that provides images of unprocessed tissue. In this study, we report the feasibility of an HHG portable microscope in the clinical workflow in terms of acquisition time, image quality, and diagnostic accuracy in suspected pulmonary and pleural malignancy. One hundred nine biopsies of 47 patients were imaged and a biopsy overview image was provided within a median acquisition time of 6 minutes after excision. The assessment by pathologists and an artificial intelligence algorithm showed that image quality was sufficient for a malignancy or nonmalignancy diagnosis in 97% of the biopsies, and 87% of the HHG images were correctly scored by the pathologists. HHG is therefore an excellent candidate to provide a rapid pathology outcome on biopsy samples, enabling immediate diagnosis and (local) treatment.

Assessment of ultrasound-guided tru-cut needle pleural biopsy in the diagnosis of unexplained exudative pleural effusion compared to medical thoracoscopy

Background Ultrasound-guided needle biopsy (USGNB) allows for precise and immediate viewing of pleural lesions, effusions, and needle placement without ionizing radiation. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of US-guided tru-cut needle pleural biopsy in diagnosing unexplained exudative pleural effusion compared to medical thoracoscopy (MT), focusing on safety, accuracy, time, and cost of the treatment. Patients and methods This observational cross-sectional research was conducted on 40 patients over 18 years old, of both sexes, with unexplained exudative pleural effusion. The patients were randomly separated into two equal groups. The girst group is USGNB and the second group is MT. Results Group II exhibited substantially greater costs, sedation levels, procedure duration, biopsy site discomfort, surgical emphysema, lung expansion failure, and psychological distress compared to group I (P&lt;0.05). There was no notable disparity between the two groups regarding radiological detection of pleural effusion, pleural fluid properties, procedural observations, histological results, and diagnostic effectiveness. The duration of hospitalization was considerably shorter in group I compared to group II, assessed from the day of the operation to the day of release (P=0.001). Conclusion USGNB is an important tool in the diagnosis of pleural effusion after failure of pleural fluid analysis, which is performed by a chest physician is an accurate, safer, lower in cost, and shorter in duration with fewer complications compared with MT.

Diagnosis of pleural tuberculosis in the era of thoracoscopic surgery

Background Before thoracoscopic surgery, diagnosing tuberculous (TB) pleurisy was a medical challenge. Thoracoscopy is the most accurate but expensive method for TB pleurisy diagnosis. TB is common in low-income countries, where financial limitations prevent the use of thoracoscopy, motivating the search for a cheaper alternative. Patients and methods A prospective study was done from January 2019 to January 2023 to evaluate diagnostic methods for patients with exudative pleural effusions (PE) of unknown etiologies. The demographic, radiological, procedural, and histological data of exudative PE patients were analyzed. All patients were examined for adenosine deaminase (ADA) and lymphocyte/neutrophil ratio in pleural fluid. Ultrasound-guided Abrams needle biopsy and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery pleural biopsies were obtained, and histopathological results were assessed. Results Of 250 patients with PE, 161 (64%) had TB PE, 72 (28.8%) had malignant PE, and 17 (6.8%) had idiopathic PE. Sensitivity of ADA (≥40 U/l) was 88%, lymphocyte/neutrophil ratio (≥0.75) was 86.1%, and their overall sensitivity was 91%. They had 93.2, 86.3, and 100% specificity, respectively. For ultrasound-guided Abrams needle biopsy, the sensitivity of histopathology, culture, and combined histopathology/culture was 66, 46.5, and 78.4%, respectively. All were 100% specific. For thoracoscopic biopsy, the sensitivity of histopathology, culture, and combined histopathology/culture was 100, 86.6, and 100%, respectively. All were 100% specific. The assay sensitivity of pleural fluid and tissue Xpert Mycobacterium tuberculosis/rifampin resistance was 12.5 and 49.7%, respectively. Both were 100% specific. Combining ADA more than or equal to 40 U/l, lymphocyte/neutrophil ratio more than or equal to 0.75, and an ultrasound-guided Abrams needle biopsy yielded 92.4% sensitivity and 100% specificity. Conclusion Combining pleural fluid ADA more than or equal to 40 U/l, lymphocyte/neutrophil ratio more than or equal to 0.75, and ultrasound-guided Abrams needle biopsy can accurately detect TB PE in high-TB populations. It may be an affordable alternative to thoracoscopy in countries with limited resources.

Diagnostic Performance of Unstimulated IFN-γ (IRISA-TB) for Pleural Tuberculosis: A Prospective Study in South Africa and India.

Tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE) is the most common form of extrapulmonary tuberculosis in many settings. The diagnostic performance of the frontline polymerase chain reaction-based GeneXpert MTB/RIF Ultra (Xpert Ultra) remains suboptimal (sensitivity of ∼30%), but data are limited. Improved diagnostic approaches are urgently needed to detect extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) in tuberculosis (TB)-endemic settings. This multicenter, prospective cohort study evaluated the diagnostic performance of a rapid (same-day) interferon gamma rapid immunosuspension assay (IRISA-TB) in patients with presumed TPE from South Africa and India. Participants underwent pleural biopsy, and testing with other available same-day diagnostic assays (adenosine deaminase [ADA], Xpert Ultra, and IRISA-TB) was concurrently undertaken. The reference standard for TB was microbiological and/or histopathological confirmation using pleural fluid and/or pleural biopsy samples. A total of 217 participants with presumed TPE were recruited (106 from South Africa, 111 from India). The sensitivity of IRISA-TB (cut-point 20.5 pg/mL) was significantly better than that of Xpert Ultra (81.8% [70.4-90.2] vs 32.9% [22.1-45.1]; P < .001) and ADA at the 40 IU/mL cut-point used in India (81.8% [70.4-90.2] vs 53.8% [41.0-66.3]; P = .002). Compared with ADA at the 30 IU/mL cut-point used in South Africa, IRISA-TB had a higher specificity (96.6% [90.3-99.3] vs 87.1% [78.6-93.2]) and a higher positive predictive value (94.7% [85.5-97.3] vs 81.8% [72.4-88.5]). The negative predictive value (NPV; rule-out value) of IRISA-TB was significantly better than that of Xpert Ultra (87.5% [83.2-93.0] vs 64.9% [61.1-68.6]; P < .001) and ADA at the 40 IU/mL cut-point (87.5% [83.2-93.0] vs 74.1% [68.7-79.0]; P < .001). IRISA-TB demonstrated markedly better sensitivity and NPV than Xpert Ultra and excellent specificity for the diagnosis of TPE. These data have implications for clinical practice in TB-endemic settings.

The Role of Video Thoracoscopy in the Diagnosis of Sarcoidosis

Sarcoidosis is a systemic autoimmune disease associated with the development of non-caseous granulomas. Early and accurate diagnosis of sarcoidosis is an important and difficult task, since the initial manifestations are diverse, nonspecific, and many patients are asymptomatic. Objective — to study the role of video thoracoscopy and to present our own experience of invasive diagnosis of sarcoidosis. Materials and methods. Patients included in the study were divided into 2 clinical groups depending on whether the diagnosis at admission coincided with the final diagnosis established after the morphological examination of lung biopsies or not. Group I — 74 patients with PDS and ML (41.6 %), whose diagnosis at admission coincided with the final clinical diagnosis (established on the basis of morphological examination of lung biopsies). Group II — 104 patients with PDS and ML (58.4 %), whose diagnosis upon admission did not coincide with the final clinical diagnosis. Results and discussion. Insufficient diagnosis of lung cancer (lung carcinomatosis) — 3 (2.9 %) cases at admission and 31 (29.8 %) cases after lung biopsy. The small percentage of diagnosis of interstitial, granulomatous lesions of the lungs or pneumonitis with systemic connective tissue pathology is also noteworthy - 3 (2.9 %) cases before lung biopsy and 19 (18.3 %) after. In patients who were diagnosed with pulmonary sarcoidosis without histological confirmation, such a pathology as tuberculosis was found in 14 (13.5 %), oncological lesion — 23 (22.1 %), interstitial or granulomatous lesion together with pneumonia in systemic pathology — 17 (16.3 %) and «other» — 20 (19.2 %) cases. We performed 178 VATS biopsies, among which lung biopsy prevailed — 67 (37.6 %) cases, pleural biopsy was the least performed — 18 (10.1 %) cases. Intraoperative complications were recorded in 2 (1.1 %) cases, in the form of bleeding from a lymph node, the elimination of which required the use of electrocoagulation, the use of local and systemic hemostatic agents. Postoperative complications were observed in 5 (2.8 %) cases and were caused by the lack of lung tightness and the resulting long-term discharge of air through the drainage. Conclusions. Manifestations of sarcoidosis often simulate other disseminated processes, so its invasive diagnosis is an effective and safe way of establishing the diagnosis, especially in complex cases and atypical clinical and radiological picture. Among invasive methods, preference should be given to mini-invasive methods, therefore, the optimal choice is VATS, which has high informativeness and a low percentage of postoperative complications and allows to evaluate a wide range of tissues such as the pleura, lymph nodes and lungs.

Machine Learning to Differentiate Malignant and Non-malignant Pleural Effusion Findings

Introduction: This study developed a method using machine learning techniques to differentiate between malignant and non-malignant pleural effusions, analyzing texture parameters in computed tomography scans Method: The study involved forty-one patients, with their computed tomography examinations classified into three groups: True Positive - patients with both cytopathological analysis and pleural biopsy indicating malignancy; True Negative - patients with negative results in both tests; and False Negative - patients with negative cytopathological analysis but positive pleural biopsy results. Four machine learning methods were applied across three analyses: True Positive versus True Negative, True Positive versus False Negative, and True Negative versus False Negative. The logistic regression model demonstrated notable effectiveness, achieving an Area Under the Curve of 0.84 ± 0.02 in the True Positive versus True Negative analysis and 0.81 ± 0.05 in the True Positive versus False Negative comparison. In the True Negative versus False Negative analysis, the Naive Bayes model achieved an Area Under the Curve of 0.72 ± 0.02. Results: Statistically significant differences were observed in the liquid Lactate Dehydrogenase and protein content between the True Positive and True Negative groups (p-values of 0.0390 and 0.0249, respectively), and in the liquid pH level between the True Positive and False Negative groups (p-value of 0.0254). The use of textural features in combination with machine learning techniques provided a reliable classification for investigating suspected pleural effusion findings. This method represents a potential tool for assisting in clinical diagnosis and decision-making, enhancing the accuracy of pleural effusion assessments Conclusion: In conclusion, our approach not only improves diagnostic accuracy but also offers a faster and non-invasive alternative, significantly benefiting clinical decision-making and patient care.

Re-designing health care: transitioning thoracoscopic pleural biopsies from the operating room to the outpatient setting using simulation for training and testing

Re-designing health care: transitioning thoracoscopic pleural biopsies from the operating room to the outpatient setting using simulation for training and testing

Association of PET/CT and VATS findings with histology analysis in the study of pleural effusions

IntroductionHistological analysis of the pleura obtained by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is the best diagnostic technique in the study of neoplastic pleural effusions. This study evaluates the relationship between Positron Emission Tomography (PET)/Computed Tomography (CT) and VATS findings, the result of the first pleural biopsy, and the final diagnosis of malignancy or non-malignancy. MethodsProspective study of consecutive patients with pleural effusions undergoing PET/CT and VATS from October 2013 to December 2023. The following variables were recorded: PET/CT score (nodular pleural thickening, pleural nodules with standardized uptake value (SUV) > 7.5, lung mass or extra pleural malignancy, mammary lymph node with SUV > 4.5 and cardiomegaly); VATS data (drained volume, visceral and parietal pleural thickening, nodules or masses, septa, plaques, fluid appearance, trapped lung, and suspected diagnosis of the procedure), as well as the histological study of the first pleural biopsy (benign or malignant) and the final diagnosis of benign or malignant pleural effusion. A logistic regression study of the variables was performed. Results95.8% of the patients with PET/CT and pleuroscopy not suggestive of malignancy had non-malignant histological findings, while 93.2% of the patients with PET/CT and pleuroscopy suggestive of malignancy had malignant histological findings. PET/CT, pleuroscopy, and the result of the first pleural biopsy showed a significant association with the final diagnosis of pleural effusion. ConclusionsThere is a strong association between PET/CT findings, VATS and pleural histology.

Application of the international system for reporting serous fluid cytopathology on pleural effusion cytology with paired pleural biopsy: A new insight and novel approach on risk of malignancy.

The risk of malignancy (ROM) remains an area of interest for further evaluation in reporting systems including in International System for reporting serous fluid cytopathology (TIS), which is a standardized system for reporting effusion cytology. Herein, we report our findings in further investigation of ROM in TIS by studying on paired pleural effusion specimens and corresponding pleural biopsies with emphasis on negative for malignancy, and atypia of undetermined significance categories. The Johns Hopkins Hospital pathology database was retrospectively searched for patients with a pleural biopsy (PBX) and a paired pleural effusion (PF) cytology specimens over a 4-year period. We employed the TIS categories. The following statistical parameters were evaluated: sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and ROM. A total of 223 patient cases were included. Effusions TIS reclassification and ROM were as follows: 1.8% non-diagnostic (ROM 75%), 75.8% negative for malignancy (ROM 23%), 4.9% atypical cells of undetermined significance (ROM 45%), 2.2% suspicious for malignancy (ROM 80%), and 15.2% malignant (ROM 100%). Overall accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV were calculated and were 79.4%, 45%, 97.7%, 91.2% and 77%, respectively. Among, discordant cases diagnosed negative for malignancy on PF and positive for malignancy on PBX, there were significant number of lymphomas, mesotheliomas, and sarcomas. Lung cancer was the most common carcinoma; however, rare types of carcinomas were noted. Cells blocks and immunohistochemistry (IHC) studies were utilized to confirm either malignant conditions or rule out malignancy in both cell blocks and histology biopsies. This study demonstrates the high specificity and ROM for 'malignant' and 'suspicious for malignancy' categories in the TIS reporting system and highlights the modest negative predictive value for the 'negative for malignancy' category. Although Tissue biopsies are usually considered as 'gold standard', any definitive diagnosis of malignancy of body fluid should be considered positive for malignancy in further clinical decision-making.

Tuberculosis masking T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia

T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia characterized by infiltration of immature T cells mainly in the mediastinum and other lymphoid organs (1). Here we present a case of a forty-five years old female who was presented with tuberculosis pleural effusion but did not respond to treatment and later found to have a T-Cell ALL. Forty-five years old female presented with fever for three weeks with left sided pleural effusion. She was diagnosed to have tuberculous pleural effusion based on positive Mantoux test (12mm induration), lymphocytic exudative pleural effusion and High ADA (80U/L). She was started on anti-tuberculosis treatment but did not respond so she underwent CECT chest and abdomen which showed pleural and pericardial effusion with mediastinal lymphadenopathy. She was further evaluated with a blood picture and bone marrow biopsy which revealed T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia. Tuberculosis can mask the underlying malignancies. In tuberculous pleural effusion if not responded to initial management CT Chest and thoracoscopy with pleural biopsy will help us to diagnose underlying malignancies.

Sago-grain nodules in tubercular pleural effusion.

A 6-year-old boy was referred with complaints of chest pain for 2 months with low-grade fever. A computerized tomography of the chest revealed a loculated pleural effusion on the left side. Medical thoracoscopy was performed that revealed a characteristic sago-grain follicle over the parietal pleural. Histopathology and microbiological investigations on pleural biopsy samples confirmed tubercular pleural effusion.

CT-guided needle biopsy is not associated with increased ipsilateral pleural metastasis

IntroductionHistological confirmation of a lung tumor is the prerequisite for treatment planning. It has been suspected that CT-guided needle biopsy (CTGNB) exposes the patient to a higher risk of pleural recurrence. However, the distance between tumor and pleura has largely been neglected as a possible confounder when comparing CTGNB to bronchoscopy. MethodsAll patients with lung cancer histologically confirmed by bronchoscopy or CTGNB between 2010 and 2020 were enrolled and studied. Patients’ medical histories, radiologic and pathologic findings and surgical records were reviewed. Pleural recurrence was diagnosed by pleural biopsy, fluid cytology, or by CT chest imaging showing progressive pleural nodules. ResultsIn this retrospective unicenter analysis, 844 patients underwent curative resection for early-stage lung cancer between 2010 and 2020. Median follow-up was 47.5 months (3–137). 27 patients (3.2 %) with ipsilateral pleural recurrence (IPR) were identified. The distance of the tumor to the pleura was significantly smaller in patients who underwent CTGNB. A tendency of increased risk of IPR was observed in tumors located in the lower lobe (HR: 2.18 [±0.43], p = 0.068), but only microscopic pleural invasion was a significant independent predictive factor for increased risk of IPR (HR: 5.33 [± 0.51], p = 0.001) by multivariate cox analysis. Biopsy by CTGNB did not affect IPR (HR: 1.298 [± 0.39], p = 0.504). ConclusionCTGNB is safe and not associated with an increased incidence of IPR in our cohort of patients. This observation remains to be validated in a larger multicenter patient cohort.

A case of pleural metastasis of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) frequently metastasizes to the lungs, although pleural metastasis is rare. This article reported a case of pleural metastasis of MPNST. The patient was a young man who presented with 1 week of shortness of breath with dry cough. He had a history of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor. The patient was diagnosed with MPNST pleural metastasis after a thoracoscopic pleural biopsy, which revealed short spindle cell hyperplasia, immunohistochemical staining for S-100(+), SOX-10(+), Ki-67(+) with a positive index of 20%, and H3K27Me3(-) in the pleural pathology.

Evaluation of polymerase chain reaction and adenosine deaminase levels for rapid diagnosis of clinically suspected tuberculous pleural effusion

ABSTRACT Background: Tuberculosis (TB) often leads to pleural effusion, particularly prevalent in developing nations such as India. There has been a global rise in TB cases. Although lymphocytic predominant fluid is commonly associated with tubercular pleural effusion, it is essential to note that not all lymphocytic predominant fluids indicate TB. The diagnosis of pleural TB has benefited significantly from the use of biochemical markers. Conventional bacteriological methods are not very useful in diagnosing tubercular effusion and rarely identify Mycobacterium tuberculosis in pleural fluid. Owing to diagnostic difficulties, newer investigations, such as TB polymerase chain reaction (TB-PCR), adenosine deaminase (ADA) and culture, are amongst the most recent techniques currently used due to the challenges associated with diagnosis. Aims: This study aimed to measure the sensitivity and specificity of TB-PCR and compare them with those of ADA and TB cultures for suspected TB pleural effusion. Methods: This study included 50 patients diagnosed with pleural effusion who underwent pleural fluid analysis. Patients exhibiting exudative effusion with lymphocyte predominance also underwent a pleural biopsy. Pleural fluid ADA levels were also measured, and TB-PCR tests were conducted. Results: Eighteen patients were confirmed to have TB by biopsy. ADA was both sensitive and specific at 67% and 62.5%, respectively. However, PCR showed a sensitivity of 16.6% and a specificity of 100%. Conclusion: This study found a statistically significant association (P &lt; 0.05) between ADA levels and distinguishing pleural effusion, which is tubercular in origin, from non-tubercular effusion. Therefore, the pleural ADA estimate appears to have the potential to be a reliable test for diagnosing TB pleural effusion. It has sufficient sensitivity and specificity while being cost-effective and easily executable compared to pleural biopsy. Our study also compared the sensitivity of PCR with pleural biopsy and discovered that PCR was more specific and less sensitive.

Diagnostic value of immune-related biomarker FAM83A in differentiating malignant from benign pleural effusion in lung adenocarcinoma

BackgroundMalignant pleural effusion (MPE) is frequently observed in patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Pleural fluid cytology is a less invasive procedure compared to pleural biopsy. Therefore, it is crucial to identify novel effective biomarkers for LUAD-associated pleural fluid cytology.MethodsThe RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) and clinical data of LUAD cases were downloaded from TCGA and OncoSG databases. Differential gene expression analysis, survival analysis and immune cell infiltration analysis were performed on the LUAD datasets. The expression levels of FAM83A, TFF-1, and NapsinA in 94 paired LUAD and adjacent normal tissues, and in the pleural effusion specimens of 40 LUAD and 21 non-neoplastic patients were evaluated by immunohistochemistry.ResultsFAM83A expression levels were significantly different between the LUAD and normal tissue datasets, and correlated with overall or disease-free survival, and histological grade of the tumors. Furthermore, the in-situ expression of FAM83A was higher in 89/94 LUAD tissues compared to the paired normal tissues. FAM83A expression was significantly correlated with immune cell infiltration, and showed a positive association with macrophage infiltration. In addition, FAM83A staining was positive in 37 LUAD pleural effusion samples, and negative in 20 non-neoplastic pleural effusion samples. The expression pattern of FAM83A in the pleural effusion of LUAD patients was relatively consistent with that of TFF-1 and NapsinA, and even stronger in some specimens that were weakly positive or negative for TTF1/NapsinA.ConclusionsFAM83A is a promising immune-related biomarker in LUAD biopsy specimens and pleural fluid, and can distinguish between malignant and benign pleural effusion.