Diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusion

Indian J Chest Dis Allied Sci. 1999 Apr-Jun;41(2):89-100.

Abstract

Tuberculosis is a common cause of pleural effusion in India. Diagnosis can be made in a majority of patients from the clinical features, pleural fluid examination (including cytology, biochemistry and bacteriology), and pleural biopsy. Adenosine deaminase estimation in pleural fluid is occasionally useful. Newer diagnostic techniques include lysozyme or interferon gamma estimation, immunodiagnostic methods and polymerase chain reaction. Although promising, they still need to be studied further before their routine use can be recommended.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Deaminase / analysis
  • Biopsy
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • HIV Infections / complications
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Tests / methods
  • Lung / diagnostic imaging
  • Lung / enzymology
  • Lung / microbiology
  • Lung / pathology
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / isolation & purification
  • Pleural Effusion / diagnosis*
  • Pleural Effusion / enzymology
  • Pleural Effusion / etiology*
  • Pleural Effusion / microbiology
  • Pleural Effusion / pathology
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Radiography
  • Sputum / microbiology
  • Thoracoscopy
  • Tuberculin Test
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / diagnosis

Substances

  • Adenosine Deaminase