Pleural amyloidosis in a patient with intractable pleural effusion and multiple myeloma.

Pleural involvement of systemic amyloidosis has been rarely reported. We report a case with multiple myeloma presenting an intractable right pleural effusion, in which pleural amyloidosis was diagnosed through pleural biopsy using a Cope needle. The diagnosis of pleural amyloidosis is important, because its refractory pleural effusion should be treated with pleurodesis. Since closed pleural biopsy using a Cope needle is much less invasive than thoracoscopy, the former should be attempted first whenever pleural amyloidosis is suspected.