Home › Pleural Effusion › NCT06892691

Pleuroscopy First Versus Thoracentesis First in Patients With Suspected Malignant Pleural Effusions

Who can join

Ages 18 and older · All sexes

Inclusion Criteria:

* Referral for diagnostic pleural procedure.
* Age ≥ 18 years.
* Suspected malignant pleural effusion (Suggestive radiologic appearance (based on computed tomography or positron emission tomography) OR suspected cancer with associated effusion.)

Exclusion Criteria:

* Inability to provide informed consent.
* Needs emergent drainage.
* Pleural effusion is known to be malignant.
* Suspected transudative, infectious or inflammatory effusion etiology.
* Having prior inconclusive/non-diagnostic thoracentesis or pleuroscopy.
* Patient is deemed by the clinical team to be more appropriate for VATS biopsy.
* Terminally ill patients in whom a diagnosis will not change management, or who is unlikely to be a candidate for oncological treatment due to significant comorbidities.
* Pregnancy

About the study

This is a randomized control trial of patients with suspected malignant pleural effusions to compare whether patients who have a thoracentesis or pleuroscopy (pleural biopsy) obtain an adequate biopsy, achieve a diagnosis, and begin cancer-directed therapy faster.

What is being tested

• Pleuroscopy first (procedure)
• Thoracentesis first (procedure)

Sponsor: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · Participants: 98 · Started: Mar 24, 2025

Contact the study team

• Udit Chaddha, MBBS · Phone: 212-241-5900

Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT06892691

Locations in the U.S.

Conditions

• Pleural Effusion
• Cancer (all types)

From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.