Autofluorescence thoracoscopy in pleural disease: does it have clinical relevance?

Thoracoscopy has proved to be a reliable tool to demonstrate or exclude pleural malignancy, with a diagnostic yield of at least 90%. (Auto)fluorescence thoracoscopy is a technique used in clinical practice for the early detection of malignant changes in the pleura in order to increase the detection rate of early malignant disease. The sensitivity of autofluorescence thoracoscopy for detecting malignant lesions on the pleural surface was, in our experience, 100% and the specificity was 75%. Autofluorescence thoracoscopy is still in the preclinical research stage and not yet ready for routine use in clinical practice. It will neither increase the (already very high) diagnostic yield of thoracoscopy nor change treatment in patients suffering from malignant pleural disease.