Contribution of Surgical Proceduresand Biomarkers to Diagnosisand Prognosis in Pleural Effusions

Research Article

Abstract

Itroduction: Pleural effusion (PE) is the accumulation of pathological amounts of fluid in the pleural space. Initial evaluation should include transudate/exudate separation of the fluid by thoracentesis.

Objective: A significant percentage of pleural effusions goun diagnosed. In our study, it was aimed to contribute to the literature by retrospectively examining the cases with pleural effusion, evaluating their demographic characteristics, etiology, diagnosis and treatment methods, biochemical markers, causes of morbidity and mortality.

Methods:  In our study, the files of 175 patients who were diagnosed with pleural effusion were reviewed retrospectively. Age, gender, comorbidity, approach to pleural fluid, analysis of venous blood and pleural fluid, diagnosis of pleural fluid, morbidity and mortality were evaluated in our cases.

Results: Women were 55 men and 110 people. The female to male ratio was 1/2. Cases with benign pleural effusion were 68.5% and cases with MPE were 31.5%.  The most common cause of MPE  was lung cancer in 21 (12%) cases. Serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and pleural fluid LDH were significantly higher in the malignant group. The age of the patients and the rate of additional disease were significantly higher in the mortality group.

Conclusion: Exudative effusions are usually caused by infection, malignancy and inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. The most common causes of MPE are lung cancers. Intervention should be decided by the clinical characteristics of the patient. Surgical procedure shave a high diagnostic value. Biochemical markers such as serum/plasma LDH and protein will contribute to the differential diagnosis.