바로가기메뉴

본문 바로가기 주메뉴 바로가기

Tuberculosis & Respiratory Diseases

Article Contents

Prev Next
e-Submission

Vol.61 No.5
Citation Share

Etiology and Characteristics of Massive Pleural Effusions Investigated at One University Hospital in Korea

Tuberculosis & Respiratory Diseases / Tuberculosis & Respiratory Diseases,
2006, v.61 no.5, pp.456-462










& (2006). Etiology and Characteristics of Massive Pleural Effusions Investigated at One University Hospital in Korea. Tuberculosis & Respiratory Diseases, 61(5), 456-462.
  • Downloaded
  • Viewed
PDF Download

Abstract

Background: Differential diagnosis is very important in patients with pleural effusions. A few studies on the etiologies of massive pleural effusions have been reported, but these were conducted in different decades and locations. In the present study, the etiologic spectrum of massive pleural effusions in Korea, were evaluated through an investigation at one university hospital. Methods: Retrospective chart reviews were performed in patients having undergone thoracentesis between July 2002 and July 2005. Pleural effusions were deemed to be massive if they occurred in two thirds or more of one hemithorax. The etiologies of massive pleural effusions, pleural fluid findings, serum laboratory findings, and sputum and pleural fluid cytologies were compared. Results: Of 298 pleural effusions cases, 41 (13.8%) had massive pleural effusions. The most frequent causes of massive pleural effusions were malignancy (19; 46.3%) followed by tuberculosis (15; 36.6%), parapneumonic effusion (4; 9.8%) and transudate (3; 7.3%). Compared with massive benign effusions, patients with massive malignant pleural effusions were more likely to have lower adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity, a higher amylase level and higher RBC count in their pleural fluids. Also, compared with non-tuberculosis effusions, patients with massive tuberculous pleural effusions were more likely to have lower RBC and neutrophil counts, but a higher lymphocyte count, adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity and protein level. Conclusion: The most common etiologies of massive pleural effusions in Korea are malignancy and tuberculosis. A high ADA content favors a tuberculous condition, while bloody effusions with a relatively lower ADA content. favors malignancy. The proportion of tuberculosis in massive pleural effusions was higher than in previous reports. (Tuberc Respir Dis 2006; 61: 456-462)

keywords
Etiology, Massive pleural effusion, Malignant effusion, Tuberculous pleurisy., Etiology, Massive pleural effusion, Malignant effusion, Tuberculous pleurisy.

Reference

1.

(2003) Etiology and pleural fluid characteristics of large and massive effusions,

2.

(2005) The relationship between age and pleural fluid adenosine deaminase activity in pleural tuberculosis,

3.

(1972) Pleural effusions:the diagnostic separation of transudates and exudates,

4.

(1973) Tuberculous pleurisy,

5.

(1985) Diagnostic procedures for pleural disease, Clin Chest Med

6.

(1977) Carcinomatous involvement of the pleura:an analysis of 96 patients,

7.

(1975) Efficacy of pleural needle biopsy and pleural fluid cytopathology in the diagnosis of malignant neoplasm involving the pleura,

8.

(1972) Massive pleural effusion:malignant and nonmalignant causes in 46 patients,

9.

(1984) Massive pleural effusion:study of 84 cases,

10.

(1996) The etiology of pleural effusions in an area with high incidence of tuberculosis,

11.

(2000) Causes of pleural exudates in a region with a high incidence of tuberculosis,

12.

(1993) The incidence of pleural effusion in a well-defined region:epidemiologic study in central Bohemia,

13.

(2001) Differential diagnosis by analysis of pleural effusion,

14.

(1999) Vascular endothelial growth factor in pleural fluid,

15.

(2003) Clinical features in patients with amylase-rich pleural effusion,

16.

(2004) The diagnostic usefulness of pleural fluid adenosine deaminase with lymphocyte/neutrophil ratio in tuberculous pleural effusion,

17.

(2003) Diagnostic tools in tuberculous pleurisy:a direct comparative study,

18.

(2000) The use of adenosine deaminase and adenosine deaminase isoenzymes in the diagnosis of tuberculous pleuritis,

Tuberculosis & Respiratory Diseases

e-Submission OA Policy