[Thoracoscopy. Results in pleural cancer (author's transl)]

Macroscopic features and related problems of pleural cancer, as seen by thoracoscopy, are presented. A reference is made to its frequent localization in the pleural bases and to its ascending progression. In cases of lung cancer with pleural effusion, such a technique opens the possibility to treat those patients in whom the non-metastatic nature of the effusion is confirmed. The higher yield of this procedure, as compared to needle pleural biopsy, is discussed and the possibility of performing intraoperative pleurodesis is emphasized.