Pleural effusion in 100 Malaysian patients

In a retrospective study of 100 patients with pleural effusion the final diagnosis was tuberculosis in 49, malignancy in 43, malignancy with tuberculosis, bacterial infection, hydrothorax with cirrhosis, reaction to pneumothorax in one each, and unknown in 4. Most of the effusions analysed were exudates (94%). Pleural biopsy was diagnostic in 46% of tuberculous effusions (13/28) and 67% of malignant effusions (20/30). Tuberculosis accounted for 87% of cases in patients aged 40 years and under. In this age group, patients with exudative pleural effusion and a positive tuberculin test are likely to have tuberculosis and early therapeutic trial is justified.