[The importance of thoracoscopy in the differential diagnosis of pleurisy]

Thoracoscopy was performed in 50 patients with pleural exudates of unclear etiology. Indications for thoracoscopy were: unclear character of accumulation of exudate, ineffective treatment including pleural punctures in case of hydrothorax. Visual examination of the pleura and chest organs supplemented by cyto- and histological study of tissues taken from involved places of the pleura allowed to arrive at an exact diagnosis in 90% of cases.