DefinePK

Abstract

ABSTRACT
Background:
Pleural effusion is a common condition for referral to outpatient clinics and in hospital consultation in Pakistan. More than fifty causes of pleural effusion have been identified. Among 22% remained undiagnosed despite intensive investigations. The most common causes of lymphocytic exudative pleural effusion are tuberculosis and malignancy .The aim of this study was to evaluate ability of pleural biopsy to differentiate between different exudative pleural effusions with lymphocytic predominance.
Methodology:
This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in Pulmonology unit, Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad from 12th October, 2017 to 20th May, 2018. Patients 13-90 years of age group of both genders, who presented with lymphocytic exudative pleural effusion diagnosed on pleural aspiration, were included in the study. A total of 126 patients were included in the study. Consecutive non probability sampling was used. Patients with transudative pleural effusion, those on diuretic therapy, bleeding diathesis and those patients who were unwilling for the procedure were excluded from the study.
Results:
Out of 126 patients, 71 were males and 55 were females. In 114/126 (90.4%) patients an adequate pleural tissue were obtained. Out of which, 76 (60.3%) were having granulomatous inflammatory changes presumptive of tuberculosis, 38 (30.2%) patients had malignancy and 12 (9.5%) had non-specific results. When pleural biopsy was stratified with age and gender, there was statistically significant association with age with p value of <0.02 but no statistically significant association with gender with p value>0.02.
Conclusion:
Tuberculosis and malignancy are most common causes of lymphocytic exudative pleural effusion. Tuberculosis is more common in younger age while malignancy is common in older age.
Key words: Lymphocytic exudative pleural effusion; Tuberculosis; Malignancy; Pleural biopsy; Gender; Age