Diagnostic efficacy and suitability of trans-thoracic ultrasonography for pleural fluid detection – The future non-invasive gold-standard?

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 184-190
Author(s):  
Muhammad Irfan ◽  
Abdul Rasheed Qureshi ◽  
Zeeshan Ashraf ◽  
Muhammad Amjad Ramzan ◽  
Tehmina Naeem ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Background: Conventionally Pleural effusions are suspected by history of pleuritis, evaluated by physical signs and multiple view radiography. Trans-thoracic pleural aspiration is done and aspirated pleural fluid is considered the gold-standard for pleural effusion. Chest sonography has the advantage of having high diagnostic efficacy over radiography for the detection of pleural effusion. Furthermore, ultrasonography is free from radiation hazards, inexpensive, readily available  and feasible for use in ICU, pregnant and pediatric patients. This study aims to explore the diagnostic accuracy of trans-thoracic ultrasonography for pleural fluid detection, which is free of such disadvantages. The objective is to determine the diagnostic efficacy of trans-thoracic ultrasound for detecting pleural effusion and also to assess its suitability for being a non-invasive gold-standard.   Subject and Methods: This retrospective study of 4597 cases was conducted at pulmonology  OPD-Gulab Devi Teaching Hospital, Lahore from November 2016 to July 2018. Adult patients with clinical features suggesting pleural effusions were included while those where no suspicion of pleural effusion, patients < 14 years and pregnant ladies were excluded. Patients were subjected to chest x-ray PA and Lateral views and chest ultrasonography was done by a senior qualified radiologist in OPD. Ultrasound-guided pleural aspiration was done in OPD & fluid was sent for analysis. At least 10ml aspirated fluid was considered as diagnostic for pleural effusion. Patient files containing history, physical examination, x-ray reports, ultrasound reports, pleural aspiration notes and informed consent were retrieved, reviewed and findings were recorded in the preformed proforma. Results were tabulated and conclusion was drawn by statistical analysis. Results: Out of 4597 cases, 4498 pleural effusion were manifested on CXR and only 2547(56.62%) pleural effusions were proved by ultrasound while 2050 (45.57%) cases were reported as no Pleural effusion. Chest sonography demonstrated sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and diagnostic accuracy 100 % each. Conclusions: Trans-thoracic ultrasonography revealed an excellent efficacy that is why it can be considered as non-invasive gold standard for the detection of pleural effusion.

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Neda Dalil Roofchayee ◽  
Majid Marjani ◽  
Neda K. Dezfuli ◽  
Payam Tabarsi ◽  
Afshin Moniri ◽  
...  

AbstractPatients with tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE) or malignant pleural effusions (MPE) frequently have similar pleural fluid profiles. New biomarkers for the differential diagnosis of TPE are required. We determined whether cytokine profiles in the PE of patients could aid the differential diagnosis of TPE. 30 patients with TPE, 30 patients with MPE, 14 patients with empyema (EMP) and 14 patients with parapneumonic effusion (PPE) were enrolled between Dec 2018 and 2019. The levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-18, IL-27, CXCL8, CCL-1 and IP-10 were determined in PE by ELISA along with measurements of adenosine deaminase (ADA). The best predictors of TPE were combined ADA.IL-27 [optimal cut-off value = 42.68 (103 U ng/l2), sensitivity 100%, specificity 98.28%], ADA [cut off value 27.5 (IU/l), sensitivity 90%, specificity 96.5%] and IL-27 [cut-off value = 2363 (pg/ml), sensitivity 96.7%, specificity 98.3%, p ≤ 0.0001]. A high level of IL-6 [cut-off value = 3260 (pg/ml), sensitivity 100%, specificity 67.2%], CXCL8 [cut-off value = 144.5 (pg/ml), sensitivity 93.3%, specificity 58.6%], CCL1 [cut-off value = 54 (pg/ml), sensitivity 100%, specificity 70.7%] and IP-10 [cut-off value = 891.9 (pg/ml), sensitivity 83.3%, specificity 48.3%] were also predictive of TPE. High ADA.IL-27, ADA and IL-27 levels differentiate between TPE and non-TPE with improved specificity and diagnostic accuracy and may be useful clinically.


2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Adel Salah Bediwy ◽  
Mohamed Gamal A. Elkholy ◽  
Mohamed Mohamed Elbedewy ◽  
Mohamed A. Hasanein

Background. Soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeoid cells-1 (sTREM-1) has recently been found to be high in infected pleural fluid (PF). Objectives. Diagnostic accuracy of PF sTREM-1 for differentiating uncomplicated parapneumonic effusions (UPPEs) from complicated parapneumonic effusions (CPPEs) was evaluated prospectively. Methods. Serum and PF sTREM-1 were measured for 68 patients with parapneumonic and transudative pleural effusion. Results. PF (but not serum) sTREM-1 concentrations were significantly higher in CPPE than in UPPE. Serum and PF sTREM-1 levels were higher in parapneumonic than in transudative groups. PF sTREM-1 had a sensitivity of 85.19% and a specificity of 83.33% at cutoff value of 250.5 pg/mL for differentiating CPPE and UPPE with area under the curve (AUC) of 0.9336. After excluding purulent CPPE cases, sensitivity and specificity became 90.48% and 83.33%, respectively (at the same cutoff value) with AUC of 0.9444. Conclusion. High concentrations of PF sTREM-1 (above 250.5 pg/mL) help to early diagnose and differentiate CPPE from UPPE.


Author(s):  
Ashok Kuwal ◽  
Manish Advani ◽  
Naveen Dutt ◽  
Seemant Saini ◽  
Surjit Singh

Semirigid thoracoscopy is increasingly becoming the procedure of choice for evaluation of undiagnosed exudative pleural effusions. Few studies have reported relationship of thoracoscopic appearances of pleural abnormalities and etiological diagnoses. We aimed our study to assess the diagnostic utility and safety of semirigid thoracoscopy for evaluation of patients with undiagnosed exudative pleural effusion. Further, we also pursued to find any relation of various thoracoscopic findings with the final diagnosis. We prospectively enrolled hospitalized patients with undiagnosed exudative pleural effusion who underwent semirigid thoracoscopy. Demographic, clinical and laboratory data along with data on thoracoscopic appearance of various pleural abnormalities and histopathological diagnosis of pleural biopsy specimens were collected and analysed. Semirigid thoracoscopy was diagnostic in 46 (N=55) patients (83.64%). Malignancy was diagnosed in 31 patients (56.36%), of which adenocarcinoma was the most common histopathological diagnosis (45.16%).  Sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV LR+ and LR- of thoracoscopy were 93.87%, 100%, 100%, 66.67%, 40.30 and 0.06, respectively. Pleural nodules, masses and hemorrhagic pleural fluid significantly increased the diagnosis yield of malignancy [OR= 37.16 (95%CI = 3.61-382.65),  =0.002]. The procedure related complications were mild and transient. Post- procedural pain (20%) was most commonly reported followed by dry cough (18.18%), sub-cutaneous emphysema (7.27%) and anaesthesia related complication (1.82%). Semirigid thoracoscopy is simple, safe and effective procedure in diagnosing exudative pleural effusion of unknown etiology with high diagnostic accuracy and minor procedure related complications. The likelihood of diagnosing malignancy is high if combination of pleural nodules, masses and hemorrhagic pleural fluid is present.


2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 311-315
Author(s):  
Haroon Ur Rasheed ◽  
Ejaz Hassan Khan ◽  
Mohsin Shafi ◽  
Ahmad Rafiq ◽  
Ambreen Ali ◽  
...  

Objective: To study the diagnostic accuracy of Adenosine deaminase enzyme (ADA) in the diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE).Material and Methods: It was a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted in the Pulmonology departments of Lady Reading and Khyber Teaching Hospital Peshawar and department of Pathology, Khyber Medical College, Peshawar from April 2015 to Jan 2016. A total of 210 tuberculous and non-tuberculous pleural effusion patients were selected through consecutive non-probability sampling techniques. After physical and systemic examination, 3cc of pleural fluid was taken. ADA was estimated by Non-Guisti and Galanti method through the simple colorimetric method. All the data was entered in a specially designed proforma and SPSS v16 was used for statistical analysis.Results: Out of 210 tuberculous and non-tuberculous pleural effusions, the commonest cause of pleural effusion was tuberculosis followed by malignancy. In our study, Pleural fluid ADA levels have sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value( PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of 95.5%, 92.3%, 92.4%, and 96% respectively in differentiating tuberculous pleural effusions from non-tuberculous lymphocytes predominant pleural effusions. Conclusion: Tuberculosis is the commonest infectious disease worldwide. A pleural fluid ADA level of ≥ 35 U/L in lymphocyte-predominant effusions makes mycobacterium tuberculosis most likely etiology. This test is not only very sensitive and specific but also it is very cheap, quick, and easy to perform by routine colorimetric method.  


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (6) ◽  
pp. 1798
Author(s):  
Mohd Ifthekhar Mohiuddin ◽  
Parth N. Patel

Background: Among 86 patients aged between 18 to 65 of both sexes having pleural effusion due to various clinical etiologies were studied.Methods: Chest x-ray PA. was studied, 20 ml of pleural fluid was aspirated to study bio-chemically, microbiologically and pathological. Echo-cardiography, USG abdomen and biopsy of pleura was also done in same patients in whom diagnosis or etiology was unclear.Results: Among 59(68.6%) had fever, 68(79%) had cough, 40(46.5%) had breathlessness, 20(23.2%) had pedal edema, 42(48.8%) had chest pain, 5(5.8%) had abdominal distention. 52(60.4%) had tubercular pleural effusion 34(39.5%) had non- tubercular pleural types of non-tubercular PE effusion (PE) included 8(23.5%) synpneumonic, 5(14.7%) had CCF, 11(32.3%) had malignancy, 2(5.88%) had RA, 2(5.88%) had dengue fever, 2(5.88%) had pancreatitis, 4(11.7%) had Hypoproteinaemia.Conclusions: This pragmatic approach to pleural effusion for patients with different clinical manifestations as pleural fluid analysis is gold standard method in evaluation pleural effusion of different etiology. Background: Among 86 patients aged between 18 to 65 of both sexes having pleural effusion due to various clinical etiologies were studied.Methods: Chest x-ray PA. was studied, 20 ml of pleural fluid was aspirated to study bio-chemically, microbiologically and pathological. Echo-cardiography, USG abdomen and biopsy of pleura was also done in same patients in whom diagnosis or etiology was unclear.Results: Among 59(68.6%) had fever, 68(79%) had cough, 40(46.5%) had breathlessness, 20(23.2%) had pedal edema, 42(48.8%) had chest pain, 5(5.8%) had abdominal distention. 52(60.4%) had tubercular pleural effusion 34(39.5%) had non- tubercular pleural types of non-tubercular PE effusion (PE) included 8(23.5%) synpneumonic, 5(14.7%) had CCF, 11(32.3%) had malignancy, 2(5.88%) had RA, 2(5.88%) had dengue fever, 2(5.88%) had pancreatitis, 4(11.7%) had Hypoproteinaemia.Conclusions: This pragmatic approach to pleural effusion for patients with different clinical manifestations as pleural fluid analysis is gold standard method in evaluation pleural effusion of different etiology.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
L Stazzoni ◽  
L Tessandori ◽  
P Spontoni ◽  
M Angelillis ◽  
C Giannini ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Instantaneous Wave-Free Ratio (iFR) allows for the assessment of the haemodynamic effects of epicardial coronary stenoses without the need for hyperaemia; iFR is currently recommended as a means to evaluate myocardial ischaemia. Purpose To assess the diagnostic accuracy of iFR with respect to the identification of coronary epicardial stenoses causing ischemia. Therefore, we combined anatomical (% stenosis at invasive coronary angiography, ICA) and functional (non-invasive imaging stress test, NIST) information to obtain a “gold standard” for the identification of stenoses causing ischaemia. Methods We enrolled 71 patients (52 male, 19 female; age mean 68.4±8.1 years) with chronic coronary syndrome or low-risk acute coronary syndrome without ST segment elevation who had at least a NIST and who had at least one vessel with a 50%-85% stenosis at ICA. iFR was measured in all coronary arteries with stenosis &gt;50% and categorised according to the 0.89 threshold for ischaemia. Results iFR was assessed in 122 vessels. In a per-vessel analysis, in 56.7% ischaemia was present both at iFR and NIST, in 21.3% ischaemia was absent in both, while in 23.0% ischaemia was found at NIST but not confirmed by iFR. The overall accuracy of iFR with respect to NIST was 90.1%. However, when considering as the “gold standard” for coronary disease causing ischaemia the contemporary presence of an epicardial stenosis &gt;70% at ICA and a positive NIST, the diagnostic accuracy of iFR greatly improved. The sensibility, specificity, PPV, NPV and accuracy were 96.5%, 75.0%, 73.3%, 96.7% and 84.4%, respectively. In case of discordance between NIST and iFR, revascularization was based on iFR. At a mean follow-up of 23±18 months, the composite endpoint of MACE (major adverse cardiac events, defined as the composite of all-cause death, nonfatal MI and unplanned coronary revascularization) occurred in 16.4%, while death/MI occurred in 11.9%. Stratification according to the per-patient concordance between iFR and NIST showed no significant differences in rates of MACE (p=0.50) and death/MI (p=0.20). Stratification based on iFR showed a higher death/MI rate in iFR-positive patients (11.9% vs. 0%, p=0.047) and a trend to higher MACE rate (11.9% vs. 4.47% p=0.14), Conclusions The diagnostic accuracy of iFR is low when compared with NIST as the reference for myocardial ischaemia, but it is very high when compared with the combined presence of epicardial stenosis and positive NIST. Therefore, iFR can accurately guide the decision to treat or defer revascularization of intermediate coronary stenoses, being most useful in patients with multivessel CAD and when non-invasive functional data are lacking or discordant with anatomy. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None


2005 ◽  
Vol 2005 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saadet Akarsu ◽  
A. Nese Citak Kurt ◽  
Yasar Dogan ◽  
Erdal Yilmaz ◽  
Ahmet Godekmerdan ◽  
...  

The aim is to examine whether the changes in pleural fluid interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-2, IL-6, and IL-8 levels were significant in differential diagnosis of childhood pleural effusions. IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, and IL-8 levels in pleural fluids of all 36 patients were measured. The levels of IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, and IL-8 in pleural fluids were statistically significantly higher in the transudate group compared with those of the exudate group. The levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8 were also found to be statistically significantly higher in the empyema group compared with both the parapneumonic and the tuberculous pleural effusion groups. The levels of IL-2 and IL-6 were detected to be statistically significantly higher in the tuberculous pleural effusion group in comparison with those of the parapneumonic effusion group. The results showed that pleural fluids IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, and IL-8 could be used in pleural fluids exudate and transudate distinction.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 95-102
Author(s):  
Abdul Rasheed Qureshi ◽  
Muhammad Irfan ◽  
Zeeshan Ashraf

Background: Discrimination between tuberculous (TB) and malignant pleural effusions is a real practical challenge because both exist as exudative lymphocytic type. Transthoracic ultrasonography not only identifies and quantifies pleural effusion but also displays sonographic septations, which are frequently seen in TB pleural effusions and can help in differentiation between tuberculosis and malignancy successfully, without any invasive procedure. We designed this study to determine the diagnostic usefulness of these septations for tuberculous and malignant pleural effusions. Material and Methods: This prospective study was conducted in the OPD of Gulab Devi Chest Hospital Lahore, Pakistan, a 1500 bedded tertiary care hospital, from November 2016 to February 2018. Total of 339 consecutive cases, aged 14-83 years with radiological evidence of pleural effusion were included in the study. After detailed history, thorough physical examination, radiological, haematological and biochemical findings were recorded. Pleural fluid macroscopic, cytological, microbiologic and biochemical analysis results were also recorded. Ultrasonography was done, septated and non-septated pleural effusions identified and findings were noted. SPSS-16 was used for statistical evaluation. Fisher Exact test was utilized for comparison between TB and malignant cases with P-value < 0.05 taken as significant. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), diagnostic accuracy and positive likelihood ratio were calculated. Results: Out of total 339 cases, 49 (14.45%) were malignant and 290 (85.55%) were non-malignant. In the malignant group, only 03 cases (6.12%) showed sonographic septations. In the non-malignant group, 259/290 (89.31%) cases showed tuberculous etiology and 187/259 (72.20%) of these cases displayed sonographic septations. By considering septations as predictor of TB, statistical analysis revealed a sensitivity of 79.23%, specificity of 92.85%, PPV of 98.42%, NPV of 44.31% and diagnostic accuracy of 81.29%, respectively. Conclusions: Sonographic septations can be a valuable predictor of tuberculosis, in a population with high prevalence of the disease. We found it to be a useful feature in differentiating between a malignant and tuberculous etiology, in exudative lymphocytic pleural effusions. It can be used with confidence in patients who are unfit for interventional procedures.


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