Pleural Fluid Analysis: Standstill or a Work in Progress?

Pleural fluid analysis yields important diagnostic information in pleural effusions in combination with clinical history, examination, and radiology. For more than 30 years, the initial and most pragmatic step in this process is to determine whether the fluid is a transudate or an exudate. Light...

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Main Authors: T. Hassan, M. Al-Alawi, S. H. Chotirmall, N. G. McElvaney
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2012-01-01
Series:Pulmonary Medicine
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/716235
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author T. Hassan
M. Al-Alawi
S. H. Chotirmall
N. G. McElvaney
author_facet T. Hassan
M. Al-Alawi
S. H. Chotirmall
N. G. McElvaney
author_sort T. Hassan
collection DOAJ
description Pleural fluid analysis yields important diagnostic information in pleural effusions in combination with clinical history, examination, and radiology. For more than 30 years, the initial and most pragmatic step in this process is to determine whether the fluid is a transudate or an exudate. Light's criteria remain the most robust in separating the transudate-exudate classification which dictates further investigations or management. Recent studies have led to the evaluation and implementation of a number of additional fluid analyses that may improve the diagnostic utility of this method. This paper discusses the current practice and future direction of pleural fluid analysis in determining the aetiology of a pleural effusion. While this has been performed for a few decades, a number of other pleural characteristics are becoming available suggesting that this diagnostic tool is indeed a work in progress.
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publishDate 2012-01-01
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series Pulmonary Medicine
spelling doaj-art-d74b233d9be549bbba0ea0490dfeb82d2025-08-20T03:23:55ZengWileyPulmonary Medicine2090-18362090-18442012-01-01201210.1155/2012/716235716235Pleural Fluid Analysis: Standstill or a Work in Progress?T. Hassan0M. Al-Alawi1S. H. Chotirmall2N. G. McElvaney3Respiratory Research Division, Educationand Research Center, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Beaumont Hospital, Beaumont Road, Dublin 9, IrelandRespiratory Research Division, Educationand Research Center, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Beaumont Hospital, Beaumont Road, Dublin 9, IrelandRespiratory Research Division, Educationand Research Center, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Beaumont Hospital, Beaumont Road, Dublin 9, IrelandRespiratory Research Division, Educationand Research Center, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Beaumont Hospital, Beaumont Road, Dublin 9, IrelandPleural fluid analysis yields important diagnostic information in pleural effusions in combination with clinical history, examination, and radiology. For more than 30 years, the initial and most pragmatic step in this process is to determine whether the fluid is a transudate or an exudate. Light's criteria remain the most robust in separating the transudate-exudate classification which dictates further investigations or management. Recent studies have led to the evaluation and implementation of a number of additional fluid analyses that may improve the diagnostic utility of this method. This paper discusses the current practice and future direction of pleural fluid analysis in determining the aetiology of a pleural effusion. While this has been performed for a few decades, a number of other pleural characteristics are becoming available suggesting that this diagnostic tool is indeed a work in progress.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/716235
spellingShingle T. Hassan
M. Al-Alawi
S. H. Chotirmall
N. G. McElvaney
Pleural Fluid Analysis: Standstill or a Work in Progress?
Pulmonary Medicine
title Pleural Fluid Analysis: Standstill or a Work in Progress?
title_full Pleural Fluid Analysis: Standstill or a Work in Progress?
title_fullStr Pleural Fluid Analysis: Standstill or a Work in Progress?
title_full_unstemmed Pleural Fluid Analysis: Standstill or a Work in Progress?
title_short Pleural Fluid Analysis: Standstill or a Work in Progress?
title_sort pleural fluid analysis standstill or a work in progress
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/716235
work_keys_str_mv AT thassan pleuralfluidanalysisstandstilloraworkinprogress
AT malalawi pleuralfluidanalysisstandstilloraworkinprogress
AT shchotirmall pleuralfluidanalysisstandstilloraworkinprogress
AT ngmcelvaney pleuralfluidanalysisstandstilloraworkinprogress