Clinical and paraclinical characteristics of patients with pleural effusion in respiratory departement of Bach Mai hospital in 2001

ABSTRACT

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.