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Causes of pleural exudates in a region with a high incidence of tuberculosis
Author(s) -
Liam ChongKin,
Lim KimHatt,
Wong Catherine MeeMing
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
respirology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1440-1843
pISSN - 1323-7799
DOI - 10.1046/j.1440-1843.2000.00223.x
Subject(s) - medicine , malignancy , pleural effusion , tuberculosis , incidence (geometry) , lung cancer , effusion , malignant pleural effusion , surgery , gastroenterology , pathology , physics , optics
Objective : To define the causes of exudative pleural effusions in our region. Methodology : A retrospective study was performed on consecutive patients with exudative pleural effusion seen in our hospital during a 4‐year period. Results : Of 186 patients with a mean age (± SD) of 51.2 (± 19.2) years with exudative pleural effusions, 131 (70.4%) were males and 55 (29.6%) were females. The most frequent cause of exudative pleural effusions was tuberculosis (44.1%), followed by malignancy (29.6%). The majority (94.5%) of malignant pleural effusions were due to lung cancer. Apart from a patient with bilateral pleural effusions due to cryptococcosis, patients with tuberculous pleural effusion (mean age ( ± SD), 39.7 ( ± 17.5)) were significantly younger than the rest ( P < 0.05). Tuberculous effusions were most frequent in the first five decades (60/82, 73.2%) and were the most common type of pleural effusion, accounting for 60 (69.8%) of 86 cases, in this age range. Malignant effusions were more frequent among the older age groups, 74.5% (41/55) of patients with malignant effusions being older than 50 years. Most types of pleural effusions showed a preference for the right side. Of the 44 cases of large effusions, 28 (63.6%) were caused by malignancy. Conclusions : In our region with a high incidence of tuberculosis, the most frequent cause of pleural exudates is tuberculosis followed by malignancy, particularly lung cancer.