Pleural fluid characteristics of pleuropulmonary paragonimiasis masquerading as pleural tuberculosis
The Korean Journal of Internal Medicine
; : 56-61, 2015.
Article
in En
| WPRIM
| ID: wpr-106134
Responsible library:
WPRO
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Pleuropulmonary paragonimiasis produces no specific symptoms or radiologic findings, allowing for the possibility of misdiagnosis. We evaluated the specific clinical and pleural fluid features of pleuropulmonary paragonimiasis masquerading as pleural tuberculosis. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical and radiologic characteristics of 20 patients diagnosed with pleuropulmonary paragonimiasis between 2001 and 2011. RESULTS: In total, 17 patients presented with respiratory symptoms, including dyspnea (30%), hemoptysis (20%), cough (20%), and pleuritic chest pain (15%). Chest radiographs revealed intrapulmonary parenchymal lesions, including air-space consolidation (30%), nodular opacities (20%), cystic lesions (15%), ground-glass opacities (10%), and pneumothorax (5%). A pleural f luid examination revealed eosinophilia, low glucose levels, and high lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels in 87%, 76%, and 88% of the patients, respectively. These traits helped to distinguish pleuropulmonary paragonimiasis from other pleural diseases such as parapneumonic effusion, malignancy, and pleural tuberculosis. CONCLUSIONS: Pleuropulmonary paragonimiasis is often initially misdiagnosed as other pleural diseases. Therefore, it is important to establish the correct diagnosis. In patients with unexplained pleural effusion living in paragonimiasis-endemic areas, pleural fluid obtained by thoracentesis should be examined to distinguish pleuropulmonary paragonimiasis. When marked eosinophilia, high LDH levels, and low glucose levels are identified in pleural fluid, physicians could consider a diagnosis of pleuropulmonary paragonimiasis.
Key words
Full text:
1
Database:
WPRIM
Main subject:
Paragonimiasis
/
Pleural Effusion
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Tuberculosis, Pleural
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Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
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Biomarkers
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Tomography, X-Ray Computed
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Predictive Value of Tests
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Retrospective Studies
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Paracentesis
/
Paragonimus westermani
Type of study:
Diagnostic_studies
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Observational_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
Limits:
Animals
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Female
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Humans
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Male
Language:
En
Journal:
The Korean Journal of Internal Medicine
Year:
2015
Document type:
Article