Observations of the diagnostic procedures of 397 patients treated due to the pleural effusion have been presented. Some of the methods were very differential. Pleural effusions were not only an etiological problem but sometimes the morphological identification is very difficult because of the atypical view of the radiologic appearance. X-ray examinations of the effusion in many projections enables differentiation from other cases. In cases where clinical and X-ray examinations cannot be performed different procedures like transthoracic tap and explorative thoracotomy should be performed.

New classification of pneumonia is pragmatic since a significant criterion is a condition in which an infection may develop: inflammations of the lungs in the home environment, immunodeficient patients, hospital infections, as a result of iatrogen complication, epidemics, etc. The principle of etiologic differentiation is reasonable when the therapy is indicated with certainty. Due to the difficulties in isolation and identification of sputum as well as the disappearance of the agent on onset of treatment because of specific therapy, the pathogenetic evolution and morphologic definition of the process is of great importance in the diagnostics and classification of pneumonia. In most patients the pneumonia has a clear course and the diagnosis is mostly established either by epidemiologic and clinical finding, laboratory testing and radiographically or by the response on empiric therapy. In some cases the invasive methods of diagnostics should be applied (BAL, transtracheal biopsy) in order to avoid false positive findings from the upper respiratory tract.

A case of specific tuberculous pericarditis is described. A short clinical and etiological classification of pericarditis is given. There are so many new forms of pericarditis today, like autoimmune, postirradiation, drug induced, etc. Specific tuberculous pericarditis is rarely registered today. One must intend to specify TB pericarditis almost if pericardial effusion is present. Pericardial punction is of much help in the diagnosis and treatment of pericardial effusion. Steroid therapy is very important in prevention of forming pericardial adhesions.