Role of serial pleural biopsies in the diagnosis of pleural effusions.

One hundred fifty-five cases of pleural effusion underwent a percutaneous pleural biopsy by the Cope needle. In the face of an inconclusive result in the first attempt, biopsy was repeated for upto three times. Diagnostic yields of biopsy in tuberculous and malignant effusion were 93.5 per cent and 66.7 per cent, respectively. When combined with pleural fluid cytology, a definite diagnosis of malignancy could be established in 80.95 per cent cases. Serial pleural biopsies significantly increased the diagnostic yield.