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

Recruiting now · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Pleural Effusion, Cancer

In brief

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.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT06892691

Run by

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

People needed

98

Starts

2025-03-24

Expected to finish

2026-09-17

Last updated by the study team

2026-02-04

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• 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.)

You may not qualify if…

• 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

Where it is running

• Mount Sinai West — New York, New York, United States (enrolling)
• Mount Sinai Hospital — New York, New York, United States (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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