OBJECTIVETo investigate the diagnostic accuracy of flexirigid thoracoscopy for pleural diseases and the patients' compliance.

METHODSForty-seven patients with pleural effusion and thickening of unknown etiology underwent examinations with flexirigid thoracoscopy with subsequent pathological examination, and the diagnostic accuracy and the patients' compliance were observed.

RESULTSThoracoscopy identified lesions in the pleural and/or diaphragm in 42 patients and no lesions in 5 patients. Malignancy was confirmed in 21 (44.7%), tuberculosis in 17 (36.2%), idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome in 1 (2.1%), nocardiasis in 1 (2.1%), constrictive pericarditis in 1 (2.1%), chronic empyema in 2 (4.3%), splenic artery embolization in 1 (2.1%), and negative result in 3 (6.4%) of the cases. The diagnostic accuracy rate of flexirigid thoracoscopy reached 93.6%, and no serious complications in relation to the examination was found.

CONCLUSIONFlexirigid thoracoscopy is efficient and relatively safe for diagnosis of pleural diseases with or without hydrothorax.