Background: A pleural effusion is an abnormal collection of fluid in the pleural space resulting from excess fluid production or decreased absorption. It is the most common manifestation of pleural disease. Objective: To evaluate the etiological, clinical, subclinical characteristics and treatment results of patients with pleural effusions. Subjects and method: This was a retrospective, descriptive study on 768 patients with pleural effusion, who were treated in Department of Respiratory of Bach Mai Hospital, from January 2001 to October 2003. The information was taken from clinical records of patients. Results and conclusions: The causes of pleural effusion were tuberculosis 37.6%, lung cancer 23.8%, pneumonia or lung abscess 8.0%, chronic heart failure disease 7.1%, liver cirrhosis 3.5%, others causes 6.7% of cases. The patients presented with chest pain 81.6%, dyspnea 75.1%, cough 43.8%, expectoration 29.7%, and fever 54.8%, pleural effusion syndrome 92.2% of cases. On chest X-ray images, 75.3% of cases had Damoiseau curve. Pleural ultrasound demonstrated free pleural effusion in 63.8% of cases, loculated pleural effusion and pleural compartmentalization in 19.8%. Rivalta test of pleural fluid was positive in 83.7% of cases, negative in 13.7%. Malignant cells found in pleural fluid of 21.2%. Histology of pleural biopsies demonstrated malignant in 17.4% of cases; in which mesothelioma 4.0%, pleural tuberculosis 30.5%; others 52.1%. After the treatment, recovery accounted for 6.3% of cases, amelioration 58.3%, and no amelioration 37.4%. 66.9% of cases were performed therapeutic thoracocentesis, 2.7% were performed pleural lavage.
Pleural Effusion/ therapy ; pathology ; diagnosis

145 children with pleural effusion were investigated at HCM Pediatric Hospital from Jan 1999 to May 2002. Results found that 53,1% of cases occurred in under five years old children, among them 62,8% were admitted in Hospital > 7 days after onset of the disease with the symptoms of fever, tachypnoe, dyspnoe, cough, lung pain. The effusion was commonly occurred in the right side . Pleural effusion S. Aureus was usually occurred 54% off cases were pleural thickening and adhesive. The mortality acconnted for 2,8% with the cause of sepsis and respiratory distress.
Child ; Pleural Effusion/etiology ; Diagnosis

221 patients with pleural effusion were treated in Bach Mai hospital from March 2002 to August 2003 were studied retrospectively in a cross-sectional investigation. Their 134 cases (60.6%) were tuberculosis plural effusion, 66 cases were pleural cancer and 17 cases (82.1%) undetermined. The common symptoms were cough, chest pain, dyspnoea and “3 reduce symdrome”, fever in 82.1% of tuberculosis pleural effusion. Biosy had determined the tuberculosis in 48.8% of cancer, cancer 19.4%, chronical inflammatory 31.9%. Pleural biopsy had got the sensitivity (Se)= 75% and specificity Sp = 97%. Biopsy in diagnosis of tuberculosis pleural effusion led to mild complication in 10% of patients
Diagnosis ; Biopsy ; Pleural Effusion ; Therapeutics

Malignant pleural effusions (MPEs) are the second leading cause of exudative pleural effusions after parapneumonic effusions. In the vast majority of cases, a MPE signifies incurable disease associated with high morbidity and mortality. Considerable advances have been made for the diagnosis of MPEs, through the development of improved methods in the specialized cytological and imaging studies. The cytological or histological confirmation of malignant cells is currently important in establishing a diagnosis. Furthermore, despite major advancements in cancer treatment for the past two decades, management of MPE remains palliative. This article presents a comprehensive review of the medical approaches for diagnosis and management of MPE.
Diagnosis* ; Disease Management ; Mortality ; Pleural Effusion ; Pleural Effusion, Malignant*

Humans ; Mesothelioma/pathology* ; Mesothelioma, Malignant ; Pleural Neoplasms/diagnosis* ; Pleural Effusion, Malignant ; Pleural Effusion/pathology*

Humans ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; diagnosis ; Pleural Effusion

284 patients with pleural effusion (PE) treated in A.D of Bach Mai Hospital from 1 Jan to 31 Dec 2001 were investigated retrospectively. The causes of PE weres determined as tuberculosis 32.7%, lung cancer 23.9%, parapneumonic effusion 8.1%, heart failure 7%, liver cirrhosis 3.5% and other causes 6.7%. 77.9% of cancer pleural effusion were aged above 50 and 66.7% of tuberculosis pleural effusion – under 50, common signs and symptoms were chest pain 76.7%, dypsnea 78.2%, cough 46.8%, expectoration 27.8%, fever 50.4%, weight loss 29.9% and pleural effusion syndrom 87%. Parachinical characteristics were: By chest Xray, free effusion in 78.6%. By pleural ultrasound, free pleural effusion 63.7%; lobulated pleural effusion 13.1%; pleural effusion with walls 20.2%. Rivalta test of pleural fluid(+) 83.8%, (-) 16.2%. Cytology of pleural fluid: malignant cells found in 23.6%. PCR MTB test of pleural fluid(+) in 34.4% of cases of tuberculous pleuritis. Histology of pleural needle biopsy – malignant in 23.4% of with 10.6% mesothelioma, pleural tuberculosis in 34.1%, other etiology in 42.5% of cases.
diagnosis ; Pleural Effusion ; Diagnostic Techniques, Respiratory System

PURPOSE: To describe radiologic differences between tuberculous pleural effusion and empyema on the basis of computed tomography(CT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed retrosepectively CT findings of 50 patients with pathologically and grossly proved empyema. Twenty-two patients had empyema, and 28 patients had tuberculous pleurisy. RESULTS: CT findings known to be useful in differentiating tuberculous pleural effusion from empyema (1) contour and extent of pleural thickening, (2) mediastinal pleural involvement, (3)accumulation of extrapleural tissue and (4) change of ipsilateral thoraic volume of empyema. However, none of the above findings were helpful in the differential diagnosis of empyema. CONCLUSION: The differentation of tubrculous pleurisy from pyogenic empyema may be not possible with CT findings only.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Empyema* ; Humans ; Pleural Effusion* ; Pleurisy ; Tuberculosis, Pleural

BACKGROUND: A pleural effusion is not a disease entity but a clincial sign of systemic or pleural disease. Although the diagnosis of pleural effusion can often be done by toracentesis and pleural needle biopsy the yeild of positive diagnosis is low.
Biopsy, Needle ; Diagnosis ; Pleural Diseases ; Pleural Effusion* ; Thoracoscopy*

Tuberculous pleurisy is the most common form of extrapulmonary tuberculosis in Korea. Tuberculous pleurisy presents a diagnostic and therapeutic problem due to the limitations of traditional diagnostic tools. There have been many clinical research works during the past decade. Recent studies have provided new insight into the tuberculous pleurisy, which have a large impact on clinical practice. This review is a general overview of tuberculous pleurisy with a focus on recent findings on the diagnosis and management.
Adenosine Deaminase ; Diagnosis ; Korea ; Pleural Effusion ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pleural*