|
PLEURAL EFFUSION |
|
exudate (>30g protein/l): |
|
|
neoplasia: |
bronchial carcinoma with pleural involvement mesothelioma metastases lymphoma |
|
infections: |
tuberculosis pneumonia (para-pneumonic effusion) |
|
inflammatory lesions below diaphragm: |
subphrenic abscess liver abscess pancreatitis |
|
other: |
trauma oesophageal rupture pulmonary embolus / infarction connective tissue disease, eg. RA, SLE, Wegener's granulomatosis |
|
transudate (<30 g protein/l): |
|
cardiac failure |
|
any other causes of generalised oedema (commonest being liver cirrhosis and nephrotic syndrome) |
|
severe anaemia |
|
oesophageal rupture (Boerhaave syndrome) |
|
Meig's syndrome (solid ovarian tumour [may be benign] ± ascites and pleural effusion; unknown mechanism) |
|
chylous: |
|
yellow nail syndrome [yellow, dystrophic nails, sinusitis, bronchiectasis, lymphoedema of limbs and chylous pleural effusions and/or ascites] ruptured cisterna chyli |
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