The role of interventional pulmonology in the diagnosis and management of undiagnosed pleural effusions

Abstract

In recent years, there has been an unprecedented drive for quality research in pleural disease, and advances in technology that have changed the landscape of interventional pulmonology, particularly for patients with undiagnosed pleural effusions. With a range of pleural procedures now available to the pulmonologist, the challenge is integrating these into a diagnostic and therapeutic pathway that is individualised to the patient's needs, while also providing expeditious diagnostic evaluation, limiting the number of procedures, and shifting care to the ambulatory setting. This review aims to summarise the important evidence related to pleural procedures, discuss their advantages and limitations, and describe their role in the management of undiagnosed pleural effusions.