The optimal number of pleural biopsy specimens for a diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy.

Study Objectives: To determine the optimal number of pleural biopsy (PLBX) specimens for a diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy.

Design: Retrospective review.

Setting: County hospital.

Diagnostic strategies for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia.

Pneumocystis carinii is an opportunistic organism that is a common cause of pneumonia in immunocompromised patients. Its life cycle begins when cysts rupture and release sporozoites, which mature into trophozoites that eventually form cysts. The diagnostic methods for P.

A modified Abrams needle biopsy technique.

Study Objective: To compare the diagnostic sensitivity of a modified Abrams needle pleural biopsy technique (A1) with the standard Abrams (A2) and Cope needle biopsy methods. The modified Abrams pleural biopsy technique consisted of suctioning each tissue sample into a syringe without removing the needle completely from the chest until the completion of the entire procedure. Both the standard Abrams and Cope needle techniques required needle removal from the chest after each pleural biopsy.