Thoracoscopy: technique and results in eighteen patients with pleural effusion.

Eighteen patients with pleural effusion were examined. Nine patients had malignant neoplasm and in one the pleura was diffusely involved. Nine patients had pleural effusion of inflammatory origin. One of these was due to tuberculosis, one to trichinosis and the other seven were nonspecific. Thoracotomy in three of these seven failed to add additional information. All patients tolerated pneumothorax well with equilibration of pleural space and atmospheric pressure.