| Closed pleural biopsy | Thoracoscopy | Computed tomography-guided biopsy | Ultrasound-guided biopsy | |
| Sensitivity | 40–45%# | 90–95% | 87% | 85% |
| Specificity | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Performed by | Pulmonologist | Pulmonologist | Radiologist | Radiologist or pulmonologist |
| Advantages | Outpatient procedureCheap | Diagnostic procedure can be combined with therapeutic intervention in one session | Small lesions and difficult locations can be reached | Widely availableReal-time imageNo radiation exposure |
| Disadvantages | Blind procedureLow diagnostic yield# | In-patient procedure | Radiation exposurePrior contrast computed tomography to localise area of pleural disease | Prior contrast computed tomography to localise area of pleural disease |
#: diagnostic yield is higher in areas with endemic tuberculosis.