Objective To compare the clinical efficacy of three different methods in treatment of tuberculous pleural effusion.Methods 108 patients with tuberculous pleural effusion were divided into three groups by randomized single blind methods,and each group had 36 cases.Group A was given Chinese medicine formulations and central venous catheter pleural drainage for injection,group B was given minimally invasive thoracic closed drainage,while group C was given conventional pleural puncture.The clinical efficacy,complications and hospitalization corresponding cost were compared in three groups.Results The clinical effective rates of the three groups were 97.2％,83.3％,61.1％ (x2 =12.90,14.17,15.28,all P ＜ 0.05).In group A,the tuberculous pleural effusion disappearedfastest,hospitalization corresponding cost was lowest and less complications,followed by group B,and group C was the worst,there were statistically significant differences (all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Chinese medicine formulations combined with central venous catheter drainage in the treatment of tuberculous pleural effusion has good clinical effecacy,and it is an effective treatment method,which is worth to be further promoted in clinical.