[Results of combined blind pleural biopsy and cytology in the differential diagnosis of pleural effusions].

In 80 patients with pleural effusion of uncleared aetiology cytological, bacteriological and chemical examinations of punctate were combined with blind pleural biopsy. Malignant pleural diseases were verified via pleural biopsy in 48% and in combination with pleural biopsy and cytology in 93% of the cases. About one third of the tuberculosis pleural effusions could be diagnosed histologically. Blind pleural biopsy can be recommended as a method of low risk in differential diagnosis of pleural effusions.