The efficacy of non-invasive positive pressure ventilation in ARDS: a controlled cohort study.

Few studies have investigated non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The aim of this controlled cohort study was to determine the efficacy of NPPV in ARDS. Two hundred and eighty- seven patients were monitored in the respiratory intensive care unit over two years. Twenty-two subjects met the American-European consensus criteria for ARDS and were included in the study. Patients were prospectively allocated into standard therapy group and NPPV group. Indications for invasive mechanical ventilation were determined before study commencement. Invasive ventilation was applied to those needing intubation. Those in the NPPV group showing no indications for urgent intubation received NPPV in addition to standard medical therapy. Subjects with indications for intubation were intubated. Primary outcome was intubation rate; secondary outcome was hospital mortality. Seventeen patients were males, 18 (90%) patients were treated for pulmonary ARDS. Mean age was 45.2 years; mean PaO(2)/FiO(2) was 106.6. The need for intubation emerged for eight patients in the standard therapy group. Seven patients in the NPPV group received NPPV, and three patients in this group needed immediate intubation. NPPV was successful in 4 (57%) patients and the other three required intubation for high PEEP or NPPV intolerance. Mean duration of NPPV was 58.3 hours. There was no difference in Acute Physiology Assessment and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II scores and initial PaO(2)/FiO(2) values between successful and unsuccessful NPPV groups; but the difference between PaO(2)/FiO(2) ratios at 24 hours between these groups was statistically significant (193.0 and 93.3, respectively; p= 0.003). While using NPPV in ARDS patients, if improvement is not seen in the first day, invasive mechanical ventilation should be implemented immediately.

Relationship of metabolic alkalosis, azotemia and morbidity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and hypercapnia.

BACKGROUND: Exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality, but the effect of metabolic compensation of respiratory acidosis (RA) on mortality is not fully understood. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between metabolic compensation and mortality in COPD patients with RA. METHODS: We prospectively investigated all COPD patients with RA admitted to the respiratory intensive care unit between February 2001 and March 2007. Two hundred and thirteen patients (159 male, 54 female; mean age 65 +/- 10.8 years) were divided into three groups (71 patients each) according to base excess (BE) levels: (1) low BE, (2) medium BE, and (3) high BE. H(+) concentration was calculated according to their standard formula and BE was calculated according to the Van Slyke equation. RESULTS: The overall mortality rate was 24.9%. The group mortality rates were 32, 17 and 25% in the low, medium and high BE groups, respectively (p = 0.001). When patients were divided into three groups according to the HCO(3)(-) levels, the group mortality rate was 59.1% in the low HCO(3)(-) group and 19.8% in the high HCO(3)(-) group. Based on univariate analysis, six factors affecting mortality were identified. However, multivariate analysis showed that the levels of serum HCO(3)(-) (p = 0.013; OR: 0.552; CI: 0.345-0.882) and creatinine (p = 0.019; OR: 2.114; CI: 1.132-3.949) had an independent effect. CONCLUSION: In patients with COPD exacerbation and hypercapnia, the development of sufficient metabolic compensation and adequate renal function significantly decreases mortality.

Epidemiology of pleural mesothelioma in a population with non-occupational asbestos exposure.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: This study describes the epidemiology of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) in a rural population with environmental asbestos exposure. METHODS: Patients with diagnosed MPM were recruited and their relevant demographic and exposure data were analysed. RESULTS: A total of 131 patients with MPM (59 men, 72 women) were studied. The patients' mean age was 57.8 years and the mean exposure duration was 28.9 years. The cumulative fibre count of the villagers ranged from 0.19 to 14.61 fibre/mL-years. Of the 131 patients, 85 had epithelial cell type, 20 had mixed, and eight had sarcomatous pleural mesothelioma. No significant relationship was found between asbestos fibre type and age, exposure period, or cellular type of MPM; similarly, no significant relationship could be found between the cellular type and age or exposure period. Patients with sarcomatous mesotheliomas were considerably older. Only five of 131 (3.8%) patients had a family history of mesothelioma. CONCLUSIONS: Environmental exposure to asbestos begins at birth and this may be important in the age of disease onset, if a threshold model for cancer initiation is operative. Both men and women had an excess risk of mesothelioma. Given that a family history of MPM was not common in this relatively homogenous patient group, a genetic predisposition to mesothelioma appears unlikely.

Increased pleural fluid adenosine deaminase levels in patients with malignant pleural effusions: a potential predictor of talc pleurodesis outcome.

Chemical pleurodesis using various sclerosing agents is accepted palliative therapy for patients with recurrent, symptomatic, malignant pleural effusions (MPE). However, the utility of various clinical and biochemical parameters in predicting pleurodesis outcome is still controversial. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between pleural fluid adenosine deaminase (Pf-ADA) levels and talc pleurodesis outcomes, and to compare Pf-ADA levels to various other biochemical variables with respect to predicting talc pleurodesis outcome in patients with MPE. In this prospective trial, 60 consecutive patients with MPE were enrolled; 35 had malignant mesothelioma (MM) and 25 had metastatic pleural carcinoma (MPC). A complete response was achieved in 49 of 60 MPE patients (81.7%). The Pf-ADA, pH, and albumin levels in patients with successful pleurodesis were significantly higher than in those with unsuccessful pleurodesis (p values < 0.001, 0.036, 0.027, respectively). ROC curve analysis revealed that optimal differentiation between successful and unsuccessful pleurodesis could be achieved with cutoff points of 17.5 U/L for Pf-ADA (area under the curve = 0.873; sensitivity = 77.6%; specificity = 90.9%); >2.5 g/dl for albumin (area under the curve = 0.715; sensitivity = 85.4%; specificity = 54.5%); and >7.26 for pleural fluid pH (area under the curve = 0.703; sensitivity = 83.7%; specificity = 54.5%). In analysis of the subgroup, Pf-ADA were found to be a good marker for discrimination between successful and unsuccessful pleurodesis in patients with MM (p < 0.001) but not in the MPC group (p = 0.068). These results indicate that Pf-ADA levels could be considered predictors of the outcome of pleurodesis, especially in patient with MM. Furthermore, the present study also demonstrated that Pf-ADA level is a superior test to predict the outcome of pleurodesis compared to pleural fluid pH and albumin level.

Recombinant factor VIIa treatment for life-threatening haemoptysis.

Diffuse alveolar haemorrhage is a severe clinical disorder that may be life-threatening. The early diagnosis of diffuse alveolar haemorrhage and prompt intervention is crucial. Recombinant factor VIIa has been used extensively for the treatment of haemophilia A and B patients. More recently, recombinant factor VIIa has been used successfully for the treatment of bleeding in patients without pre-existing coagulopathy. We describe the successful use of recombinant factor VIIa in a patient with diffuse alveolar haemorrhage secondary to pulmonary-renal syndrome.

Predictors of hospital outcome and intubation in COPD patients admitted to the respiratory ICU for acute hypercapnic respiratory failure.

BACKGROUND: Mortality rate, the possible factors affecting mortality and intubation in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) and hypercapnic respiratory failure (RF) are yet unclear. OBJECTIVE: To identify the possible factors affecting mortality and intubation in COPD patients. DESIGN: A prospective study using data obtained over the first 24h of respiratory intensive care unit (RICU) admission. Consecutive admissions of 656 patients were monitored and 151 of them who had acute exacerbation of COPD and hypercapnic RF were enrolled. SETTING: University hospital, Department of Chest Diseases, RICU. RESULTS: Mean age was 65.1 years. The mean APACHE II score was 23.7. Eighty-seven patients (57.6%) received mechanical ventilation (MV) via an endotracheal tube for more than 24 h. Twenty-two patients received non-invasive ventilation (NIV). Fifty patients died (33.1%) in hospital during the study period. The mortality rate was 52.9% in patients in need of MV. In the multivariate analysis, the need for intubation, inadequate metabolic compensation for respiratory acidosis, and low (=bad) Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) were determined as independent factors associated with mortality. The low GCS (OR: 0.61; CI: 0.48-0.78) and high APACHE II score (OR: 1.24; CI: 1.11-1.38) were determined as factors associated with intubation. CONCLUSION: The most important predictors related to hospital mortality were the need for invasive ventilation and complications to MV. Adequate metabolic compensation for respiratory acidosis at admittance is associated with better survival. A high APACHE II score and loss of consciousness (low GCS) were independent predictors of a need to intubate patients.

High body mass index and long duration of intubation increase post-extubation stridor in patients with mechanical ventilation.

Approximately 20% of mechanically ventilated patients experience post-extubation stridor (PES) and reintubation, which subsequently may lead to an increased risk of morbidity and mortality. The risk of PES development is significantly higher in obese patients. Low air leakage between the endotracheal tube and the trachea, following cuff deflation, may indicate a higher risk for the development of PES. The aim of this study is to identify the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and PES using the cuff-leak test in patients intubated in the respiratory intensive care unit. A total of 67 consecutive intubations on 56 different ventilated patients were included in this study. The mean age was 63.6 +/- 12.1 years and 84% of the patients were male. PES developed in seven patients (10.4%). The mean cuff-leak volume was 395 +/- 187 ml in non-PES patients and 240 +/- 93 ml in PES patients (p = 0.023). The mean BMI was 36 +/- 13 kg/m2 in PES patients and 24 +/- 7 kg/m2 in non-PES patients (p = 0.046). BMI > 26.5 kg/m2 (OR: 1.2), low cuff-leak volume (< 283 ml) and mechanical ventilation required for more than 5 days (OR: 0.9) were independent variables for PES occurrence. We therefore suggest that non-obese patients, short-term intubated patients and those having a high air leakage around the endotracheal tube could be extubated without much difficulty.

Primary lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the lung.

Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (LELC), best known to occur in the nasopharynx, can arise in a variety of sites, such as the salivary gland, thymus, lung, stomach, and skin. Primary LELC of the lung is very rare, with only limited information in the literature. We presented a case of a 66-year-old white man with a T2N0M0 lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the lung. Immunohistochemical analysis was negative for Epstein-Barr virus. Observation of the nasopharynx and a computerized tomography of the cavum were normal.

[Synchronous primary lung cancers: due to the four cases]. / Senkron primer akciger kanserleri: dört olgu nedeni ile.

If two primary lung cancers are present in the same time, it diagnosed as synchronous lung cancer. It constitutes 0.1-1.6% of all lung cancers. In this report, we described four cases diagnosed synchronous multiple primary lung cancers (MPLC) in between June 1999 and May 2002. Mean age was 63, and all of those were male. All patients were heavy smoker (mean 58 packet/year). Histology of lung cancers was squamous-adeno in two cases, squamous-small cell lung cancer in one case, and squamous-squamous in two cases. All patients had bilateral mass lesions and no mediastinal and systemic spread. Lesion of second primary lung cancer was unable to seen in two patient's chest X-ray. Their lesions were seen by computerized tomography in one case, and by bronchoscope only in the other case. Lesion site was left lower lobe, right lower lobe, right middle lobe, and left upper lobe (25% for each). Diagnosis of lung cancer was made by transthoracic needle biopsy in three lesion, and made by bronchoscopic biopsy in other lesions. While it is recommended that, all of MPLC lesions were staged separately and treated surgically, due to the advanced age, presence of small cell lung cancer, and inadequate post-operative respiratory reserve, surgical treatment could not apply to these patients and they received chemotherapy. Three of them was died (mean survival was 11 months). Due to the this report, we emphasized that diagnostic procedures should be done separately for each lesions in patients who had more than one lesion, and treatment should plane according to these results.

[Epidemiological features of bronchial carcinoma cases with environmental asbestos exposure]. / Cevresel asbest temasi olan brons kanserli olgularin epidemiyolojik özellikleri.

Due to environmental asbestos exposure, asbestos related lung diseases are common in Eskisehir district of Anatolia. In this study we aimed both to determine the epidemiological findings of the patients diagnosed as bronchial carcinoma and to discuss the features, which were probably related to asbestos exposure, presented by the patients. From May 1997 to December 2000, 301 cases were included in the study. Of the patients, 97 (32.2%) had epidermoid cell type, 84 (27.9%) had small cell, 39 (13%) had adenocarcinoma, 4 (1.3%) had large cell. Adenocarcinomas were more frequent in women. There were not significant differences among the cell types from the point of view of the age distributions. Adenocarcinomas were more frequently located in lower lobes of the lungs (36.9%) and more frequently showed peripheral locations (45.9%) than other cell types (20.6% for epidermoid and 14.6% for small cell). Pleural effusion was more detected in adenocarcinomas (48.7% to 17.3% in epidermoid, 18.3% in small cell). The duration of smoking was shortest in adenocarcinomas, mean 32.4 years; the same duration was 56.2 years for epidermoid carcinomas. Of the patients, 54% had asbestos exposure. Adenocarcinomas were more frequently detected in the patients who exposed to asbestos but did not smoke. Our findings support that asbestos exposure may increase adenocancer frequency. The epidemiological and clinical features of adenocancer cases exposed to asbestos environmentally were not different than those of adenocancer cases exposed to asbestos occupationally.

Relapsing polychondritis.

Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is a rare, inflammatory disease with multisystem involvement and it should be considered in the aetiology of sudden respiratory distress. A 49-year-old woman was admitted to the emergency service of Osmangazi Hospital in acute respiratory distress. She had a tracheostomy following a diagnosis of laryngeal stenosis 10 years earlier. She was managed thereafter at another hospital with a diagnosis of asthma. At admission she was in respiratory distress, had arthralgias, bilateral subconjunctival hyperaemia, periorbital oedema and skin lesions. A thoracic CT showed tracheal wall thickening. Calcification of the auricular regions were noted bilaterally. Bronchi, conjunctiva and skin lesions were biopsied with a provisional diagnosis of RP. The diagnosis of RP in this patient was based on clinical, pathological and radiological findings. Steroid therapy was begun and she was referred to a surgical centre for stenting. This case report emphasizes the need to consider the possibility of RP as a cause of sudden respiratory distress.

[Wegener granulomatosis: three cases]. / Uç olgu nedeniyle Wegener granülomatözü.

Wegener granulomatosis (WG) is characterized by granulomatous vasculitis that involves multisystem, including upper and lower airways and kidney. WG may be a mortal disease if the diagnosis is delayed. The aim of this study is to present three patients admitted with different prediagnosis but after the investigations were diagnosed as WG and followed in our clinic. The cases were discussed with the literature knowledge. All three patients were diagnosed as WG with clinical, radiological and pathological findings. c-ANCA was positive in two patients, and negative one. Complete remission was established with treatment in one case. The treatment of other patients going on, however, the third patient was lost to follow up.

[Serum adenosine deaminase activity in pulmonary tuberculosis]. / Akciger tüberkülozunda serum adenozin deaminaz aktivitesi.

Adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity has been helpful for the diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy. However, there are few studies about the role of ADA in the diagnosis and follow-up of pulmonary tuberculosis. In our study, serum ADA activity was determined in order to investigate the role of the enzyme in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis and monitoring the efficiency of therapy. The ADA activity was (mean +/- SD) 21.77 +/- 8.51 U/L in pulmonary tuberculosis patients (n= 44), 6.24 +/- 3.25 U/L in old tuberculosis patients (n= 24), 8.58 +/- 4.38 U/L in healthy control subjects (n= 20), whereas the mean for the patients with bronchial cancer (n= 20) was 18.51 +/- 7.85 U/L. There was no statistical difference between the results of pulmonary tuberculosis patients and the patients with bronchial cancer. On the contrary, the result of these two group were significantly different from both old tuberculosis patients and healthy control subjects (p< 0.001 for both). In 10 pulmonary tuberculosis patients, ADA activities were determined both before and after treatment and a significant decrease was observed in ADA activities after treatment (p< 0.001). In conclusion, serum ADA activity is increased in pulmonary tuberculosis patients, therefore it may be a helpful parameter for monitoring therapy.

[The evaluation of close contact case of pulmonary tuberculosis patients enrolled to Eskisehir Deliklitas Tuberculosis Control Dispensary]. / Eskisehir Deliklitas Verem Savas Dispanseri'nde kayitli akciger tüberkülozu yakin temaslilarinin degerlendirilmesi.

Persons infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis are at greatest risk for developing active tuberculosis especially in children, adolescents, young adults and persons who have selected risk factors. Persons who were contact with tuberculosis patients and who have positive tuberculin skin test reactions and had high risk for developing active tuberculosis should be use preventive chemotherapy. In this study, we aimed to evaluate retrospectively 1663 close contacts of 486 active tuberculosis patients who registered in Eskisehir Deliklitas Tuberculosis Control Dispensary. The mean age was 25.4 +/- 18.1 years, 961 (57.7%) cases were female and 702 (42.3%) cases were male. Diagnosis was performed 1114 (67%) of close contacts people's patients with microbiological study. The scatrix of BCG has been recorded 901 (54.2%) cases, tuberculin skin test results has been recorded 952 (57.2%) cases. Tuberculin skin test of 612 (64.5%) cases were above 15 mm. 37.8% of cases were used preventive chemotherapy and 2.6% of cases had active tuberculosis disease. The age group was 7-14 years and persons who had close contacts of bacile positive patients, 80.5% of them had used preventive chemotherapy. Persons who's tuberculin skin test positive and younger than 6 years, 98.5% of them had preventive chemotherapy. Only 372 (59.2%) of patients completed preventive chemotherapy. At the results; we established that the preventive chemotherapy programme which recommended to our country is using regularly, but most of the close contact patients didn't completed their therapy.

[The evaluation of pulmonary tuberculosis patients enrolled to Eskisehir Deliklitas Tuberculosis Control Dispensary]. / Eskisehir Deliklitas Verem Savas Dispanseri'nde kayitli akciger tüberkülozu olgularinin degerlendirilmesi.

Tuberculosis is an important public health problem in our country. Tuberculosis Control Dispensary has been important role in tuberculosis control programme. In this study we retrospectively evaluate 891 pulmonary tuberculosis patients who registered in Eskisehir Deliklitas Tuberculosis Control Dispensary between January 1990 and June 2000. The mean age was 38.9 +/- 15.7 years, 159 (18.3%) patients were female, 710 (81.7%) patients were male. The most common symptom was cough (88.7%). 81 percent of patients have been found by examination of symptomatic people while 6.4 percent of them by examination of close contacts. 26.5 percent of patients had close contacts with tuberculosis patients. The scares of BCG vaccine has been recorded 63.6% of the patients and 80.3% percent of them had at least one scare, tuberculin skin test result has been recorded in 49.6% percent of patients. Cavitary pulmonary tuberculosis was a diagnosed of 27.7%. The sputum examination and culture for acid resistant basil has been performed 89.1% of the patients, 389 (50.2%) of patients had acid fast bacillus in sputum and 548 (70.8%) of patients had culture positivity. 80.3 percent of the patients has completed regularly their treatments (mean duration 10.4 +/- 2.6 months). The mortality rate was 5.8%.

Acute phase reactants and cytokine levels in unilateral community-acquired pneumonia.

BACKGROUND: Bacterial infection of the lower respiratory tract initiates an acute inflammatory response. Regulation of the inflammatory response in bacterial pneumonia depends on a complex interaction between immune cells and inflammatory cytokines. OBJECTIVES: We investigated the initial levels of proinflammatory cytokines and acute phase reactants (APR), e.g. C-reactive protein (CRP), upon presentation of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in relation to clinical and laboratory indices of infection. METHODS: We prospectively studied 28 consecutive patients with unilateral CAP. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6 and IL-8 concentrations were measured by ELISA in both bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and serum. RESULTS: The concentrations of IL1-beta and IL-6 in BAL fluid were found to be significantly higher in the involved lung than those in either the uninvolved lung (p = 0.008 and p = 0.012, respectively) or serum (p = 0.002 and p = 0.025, respectively). Serum CRP concentrations were increased compared to those in the involved and uninvolved lung in BAL fluid (p = 0.000 and p = 0.000, respectively). In serum and BAL from involved lung, IL-6 concentrations were higher in the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) group than in the non-SIRS group (p < 0.05), whereas CRP, TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and IL-8 concentrations showed no difference between SIRS and non-SIRS. There was no significant correlation between the acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II score and the cytokines. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that the CRP level is higher in the serum than in the BAL fluid in the lung, and that IL-6 is the most important cytokine for the determination of the severity of the disease.

[Pleural effusion due to the ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome]. / Over Hiperstimülasyon Sendromuna Bagli Plevra Sivisi.

Ovulation induction is a treatment that aimed to increase the pregnancy probability by increasing the follicular grow up and maturation. The most frequent complication is ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). Pleural effusion and abdominal ascites accumulation is frequently accompany this syndrome. A young patient receiving ovulation induction therapy was admitted to our department with sudden chest pain and dyspnea. Exudative pleural effusion was determined in the right and we suggest that pleural effusion was accumulated due to OHSS because of the presence of abdominal ascites, hemoconcentration, recent application of ovulation induction therapy and elimination of other causative factors for pleural effusion. The disappearance of pleural effusion spontaneously in a week support our idea. We reviewed the literature about the pleural effusion due to ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. In the differential diagnosis of pleural effusion in young female patients, the accumulation of pleural effusion due to the recent ovulation induction story should be kept in mind which is especially important in the differential diagnosis of pulmonary embolism.

Malignant mesothelioma due to environmental exposure to asbestos: follow-up of a Turkish cohort living in a rural area.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: This study examines the incidence of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) in a rural population of Turkey with environmental exposure to asbestos-contaminated soil mixtures (white soil). DESIGN: A field-based epidemiologic study. SETTING AND SUBJECTS: A cohort of villagers (the "Eskisehir" cohort) from 11 villages around Eskisehir in central Anatolia, who had been environmentally exposed to asbestos due to the use of white soil. MEASUREMENTS: The mineral content and asbestos contamination of the white soil used in these villages was determined, as well as airborne fiber concentrations. Cohort members' details of age, sex, ambient exposure data, duration of residence in the villages, and hospital records, including pathologic diagnosis, were recorded. RESULTS: The Eskisehir cohort consisted of 1,886 villagers. During the observation time, 377 deaths occurred and 24 MPM cases were diagnosed. Average annual mesothelioma incidence rates were 114.8/100,000 for men and 159.8/100,000 for women. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that the risk of mesothelioma is 88.3 times greater in men and 799 times greater in women, respectively, in comparison to world background incidence rates.

Computed tomography features in malignant pleural mesothelioma and other commonly seen pleural diseases.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the computed tomography (CT) features of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) cases, comparing them to those in other malignant and benign pleural diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the CT findings of 215 patients; 99 with MPM, 39 with metastatic pleural disease (MPD), and 77 with benign pleural disease. The findings were evaluated in univariate and multivariate analysis for differentiation of pleural diseases. RESULTS: In patients with MPM, the most common CT features were circumferential lung encasement by multiple nodules (28%); pleural thickening with irregular pleuropulmonary margins (26%); and pleural thickening with superimposed nodules (20%). In the majority (70%) of cases, there was rind-like extension of tumor on the pleural surfaces. In multivariate analysis, the CT findings of "rind-like pleural involvement", "mediastinal pleural involvement", and "pleural thickness more than 1 cm" were independent findings in differentiating MPM from MPD with the sensitivity/specificity values of 70/85, 85/67, and 59/82, respectively. "Rind-like pleural involvement", "mediastinal pleural involvement", "pleural nodularity" and "pleural thickness more than 1 cm" were independent findings for differentiation of malignant pleural diseases (MPM+MPD) from benign pleural disease with the sensitivity/specificity values of 54/95, 70/83, 38/96, and 47/64, respectively. Invasion of thoracic structures such as pericardium, chest wall, diaphragm, mediastinum, with pleural disease and nodular involvement of fissures, was detected infrequently; however, since these invasions were not seen in benign pleural diseases, it was concluded these invasions, if detected on a CT scan, directly suggested malignancy. CONCLUSION: A patient has extremely high probability of malignant pleural disease if one or more of these CT findings are found and the possibility of MPM is high. These findings may be important for patients in bad state or patients who do not want any invasive biopsy procedures. It is also possible to identify cases with a low probability of malignant disease.