HISTOPATHOLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS OF PLEURAL BIOPSIES RECEIVED AT A TERTIARY CARE CENTRE

Background: Pleural diseases are common, affecting a significant number of patients worldwide. Pleura are frequently involved secondary to diseases like pneumonia, cardiac failure and pulmonary tuberculosis, whereas primary pathological diseases of the pleura are exclusively uncommon. In majority of the cases diagnosis can be made by history, clinical examination, laboratory tests and imaging studies. Biopsy is however required for definitive diagnosis of certain infective conditions and all neoplastic lesions as in some cases, the management is prolonged and expensive as well. This study highlights the role of biopsies in diagnosis of uncommon pleural pathologies. Methods: All pleural biopsies received at the Pathology Department of Ayub Medical College, Abbottabad from Jan 2014 to Dec 2023 were included in the study. Haematoxylin and Eosin (H & E) stained slides were examined to determine the frequency of various pathological lesions affecting pleura. Special stains and immunohistochemistry were performed whenever required. Results: A total of 222 biopsies were included in this study. The most common pathology in pleural biopsies was chronic non-specific pleuritis constituting 86 (38.7%), followed by empyema in 85 (38.3%) cases. Chronic granulomatous inflammation due to tuberculosis was seen in 20 (9%) cases. Rare infections like actinomycosis and fungal infection were identified in 2 cases. Conclusion: In this study the most common pathology identified on pleural biopsy was chronic non-specific pleuritis, while one case each of actinomycosis and fungal infection were seen. Pak J Physiol 2024;20(4):48-51, DOI: https://doi.org/10.69656/pjp.v20i4.1712