Evaluation of a patient with a<unk>  effusion requires a thorough clinical history and physical examination in conjunction with pertinent laboratory tests and imaging studies. According to the British Thoracic Society<unk>  Disease Guideline 2010, thoracentesis should not be performed for bilateral effusions in a clinical setting strongly suggestive of a transudate unless there are atypical features or they fail to respond to therapy.<unk>  fluid should always be sent for protein, lactate dehydrogenase, Gram stain, cytology and microbiological culture. Additional studies which may be indicated in selected cases include pH, glucose, acid-fast bacilli and tuberculosis culture, triglyceride, cholesterol, amylase, and hematocrit. Light's criteria is applied to distinguish the fluid between transudative or exudative. A  broad array of underlying conditions result in exudative effusions, while a limited number of disorders are assoicated with transudative effusions, which include congestive heart failure, cirrhosis, nephrotic syndrome, peritoneal dialysis, hypoalbuminemia, urinothorax, atelectasis, constrictive pericarditis, trapped lung, superior vena cava obstruction, and duropleural fistula.
Pleural effusion differential diagnosis
Pneumothorax differential diagnosis
Lung abscess differential diagnosis
Pneumomediastinum differential diagnosis
Pleural effusion risk factors
Pulmonary edema differential diagnosis
Farmer's lung differential diagnosis
Hemothorax differential diagnosis