Abstract: ObjectiveTo explore the diagnostic value of combination with mycobacteria culture from pleural effusion and pleural biopsy or alone in patients with tuberculous pleurisy.Methods Mycobacteria culture from pleural effusion and pleural biopsy were carried out in 270 patients(including 141 cases with pulmonary tuberculosis) with tuberculous pleurisy. We observed and analyzed the positive rates of culture, biopsy and the combination.ResultsThe positive rates of Mycobacteria culture from pleural effusion, pleural biopsy, and combination with two Methods in patients with tuberculous pleurisy were 41.1%, 62.5% and 80.0% respectively. The rate of combination with two method were significant higher than those of mycobacteria culture from pleural effusion(χ²=85.476，P<0.01) and pleural biopsy (χ²=14.892，P<0.01).ConclusionThe Methods of mycobacteria culture and pleural biopsy are safe and accurate with high value to dianose tuberculous pleurisy. Combination with pleural biopsy and mycobacteria culture may improve the rate of diagnosis. In addition, mycobacteria culture can identify whether mycobacteria strain isolated from pleural effusion is multidrug-resistant tuberculosis(MDR-TB) or non-tuberculous mycobecteria(NTM).

Key words: tuberculosis,pieural/diagnosis, pleura, biopsy, pleural effusion, Mycobacterium tuberculosis