Role of investigation in diagnosis of granulomatous pleural effusion

Background: Tuberculosis is second most common cause of pleural effusion. Chest pain, dyspnea, x-ray findings and clinical examination draw a suspicion oftuberculosis but clinicians need reliable and low cost tests todiagnose tuberculosis in pleural effusion. Method: 41 samples of clinically known tuberculous pleural effusion were taken in one year. All samples were tested by ziehlneelsen staining, adenosine deaminase, routine microscopy, and polymerase chain reaction. Results are analysed. Conclusion: It has been found, although PCR is highest sensitive and specific tool but due to high cost and unavailability at many facilities, combination of ADA and R/M can be doneto diagnose tuberculous pleural effusion, which will decrease the cost and time for diagnostic tests.