Open AccessA Prospective Study to Evaluate a Diagnostic Algorithm for the Use of Fluid Lymphocyte Subset Analysis in Undiagnosed Unilateral Pleural Effusions
Author(s) -
Giles Dixon,
Rahul Bhatnagar,
Natalie Zahan-Evans,
Amelia O Clive,
Paul Virgo,
Mary Brett,
Sophie Otton,
Andrew R L Medford,
Nick Maskell
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
respiration
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.264
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1423-0356
pISSN - 0025-7931
DOI - 10.1159/000481290
Subject(s) - medicine , malignancy , thoracentesis , pleural effusion , gastroenterology , lymphocyte , effusion , surgery
Haematological malignancy is an important cause of pleural effusion. Pleural effusions secondary to haematological malignancy are usually lymphocyte predominant. However, several other conditions such as carcinoma, tuberculosis, and chronic heart failure also cause lymphocytic effusions. Lymphocyte subset (LS) analysis may be a useful test to identify haematological malignancy in patients with lymphocytic effusions. However, research into their utility in pleural effusion diagnostic algorithms has not yet been published.