ABSTRACT

Introduction: Many benign and malignant diseases can cause pleural effusion. Symptoms depend on the amount of accumulated fluid and the underlying cause. Imaging studies are useful in the detection and management of pleural effusions. Objectives: To determine the radiological characteristics of pleural effusion and its relationship with clinical and biochemical manifestations and histological markers. Methods: From March 2011 to March 2012, an observational, descriptive, prolective analytical study was performed. Chest X-rays of 138 patients › 15 years of age with pleural effusion during the study period were reviewed. Radiological studies were interpreted by three pulmonologists blinded to the underlying pathology (kappa .95). We used the statistical package SPSS 19.0. Statistical significance was considered when p value was ‹ 0.05. Results: The mean age of the study group was 56.1 ± 15.8 years; 93 (67.4%) were males. The most common signs and symptoms regardless of the etiology were dyspnea, 108 cases (78.2%) (p = 0.033); cough, 96 (69.5%); weight loss, 82 (59.4%) (p = 0.042); and pain, 79 (57.2%). The most common X-ray pattern was massive effusion in 46 (33%) followed by loculated effusion in 33 (24%). There was a unilateral predominance in 119 (86%) patients, with greater frequency in those with infectious (p = 0.012) and neoplastic etiology (p = 0.006). Conclusions: Clinical and radiological manifestations of pleural effusion are varied according to the type of pleural pathology and the degree of involvement.

KEYWORDS

Pleural effusion, neoplasm, infections, transudate.

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