Detection of Mycobacterial DNA Using Nested Polymerase Chain Reaction of Pleural Biopsy Specimens: Compared to Pathologic Findings

摘要

Background :Although there are many methods including AFB smear and culture, and the analysis of pleural fluid in the etiological diagnosis of pleural effusion, it is sometimes difficult to confirm a diagnosis especially in cases of incomplete pleural biopsies. Moreover, the high incidence of tuberculous pleuritis in young people caused confusion in the differential diagnosis of pleural effusion in Korea. The pathognomonic finding of tuberculous pleuritis in pleural biopsy is chronic granulomatous pleuritis (CGP) with caseous necrosis. But a biopsy does not always provide a definitive diagnosis, which shows in only 60–70% of all biopsies, because of either limitations in blind biopsies or inadequate specimens. An adequate biopsy also gives only limited information, such as chronic or nonspecific pleuritis.