Pleural effusion differential diagnosis

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Template:GCC

Differential diagnosis

Evaluation of a patient with a pleural effusion requires a thorough clinical history and physical examination in conjunction with pertinent laboratory tests and imaging studies. 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.

Light's criteria is applied to distinguish the fluid between transudative or exudative.