The role of percutaneous ultrasound-guided true-cut needle biopsy in patients with sheet-like pleural thickening

Background Pleural biopsy for histological confirmation is the standard diagnostic procedure for pleural diseases. Aim To identify the role of percutaneous ultrasound (US)-guided true-cut needle biopsy in patients with sheet-like pleural thickening. Patients and methods A prospective interventional simple controlled trial was conducted on 60 patients with computed tomographic evidence of pleural thickening. Percutaneous US-guided pleural biopsies using a true-cut needle were performed for pathological tissue characterization; complications were recorded. Results All patients were diagnosed, with only five (8%) patients found to have self-limiting pneumothorax, with no need for a chest tube. Fifty-three percent of patients had a histopathological diagnosis of mesothelioma, 14% had a histopathological result of adenocarcinoma, whereas 33% had chronic fibrosing pleuritis. Conclusion The US-guided procedure has a major advantage as it is being real time, rapid, available bedside, and well tolerated, and no serious complications were observed in good case selection and procedure.