Incidental findings | Clubbing, radiation burns, aspiration marks, lymphadenopathy |
+ve signs | Stony dull percussion note, decreased breath sounds, decreased vocal resonance |
Differential diagnosis | Pleural effusion cause depends upon transudate or exudate |
Function | ?respiratory compromise |
Tests |
CXR, ultrasound
Pleural tap - protein, albumin, LDH, glucose, cytology, microbiology, acid fast bacilli Pleural biopsy, CT chest |
Transudate
Cardiac failure Nephrotic syndrome Cirrhosis |
Exudate
Neoplastic: Ca bronchus / met / mesothelioma Infectious: Pneumonia, TB Connective tissue: rheumatiod arthritis, SLE |