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Updated: Jan 23, 2026

Local Anesthetic Thoracoscopy for Undiagnosed Pleural Effusion
Published on: November 10, 2023
Contemporary Approach to the Diagnosis of Malignant Pleural Effusion
Viren Kaul1, David J McCracken2,3, Najib M Rahman2,3,4,5
1Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Elmhurst Hospital Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Elmhurst, New York.
Abstract:
Advanced malignancy is a prevalent cause of exudative pleural effusion. The management of malignant pleural effusion (MPE) has been the subject of several recent randomized controlled trials and excellent reviews. Less attention has been focused on another controversial and challenging aspect of MPE: establishing the diagnosis. Before selecting the optimal management strategy, the presence of an MPE must first be correctly identified with an emphasis on minimizing invasiveness and discomfort in a patient with late-stage cancer. The aim of the present review is to summarize the current knowledge about MPE diagnostics and to propose an algorithm for the diagnosis of MPE in established or suspected malignancy.
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