Pleural effusion classification

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Prince Tano Djan, BSc, MBChB [2]

Classification

Pleural effusion may be classified according to Light's criteria into two subtypes: exudate and transudate.

Pleural effusion may also be classified according to the appearance of pleural fluid, composition of pleural fluid and etiology of the pleural fluid as follows:

Gross appearance

• Serous fluid (hydrothorax)
• Blood (hemothorax)
• Chyle (chylothorax)
• Pus (pyothorax or empyema)

Infectious and noninfectious

Some of the infectious causes are pneumonia, hepatitis, liver abscess, tuberculous pleural effusion, splenic abscess and subphrenic abscess. Some non-infectious causes of pleural effusion include; benign asbestos pleural effusion, pulmonary embolism, radiation therapy, and malignancy (local/metastatic carcinoma, lymphoma, mesothelioma, Leukemia, paraproteinemia)