Pleural Effusion

Question 1

Transudate

Answer 1

More common; caused by fluid falling out of capillary space (either increased hydrostatic pressure- CHF or loss of oncotic pressure- nephrosis, gastrosis (kwashiorkor, protein malabsorption), cirrhosis)

Question 2

Exudate

Answer 2

Proteins leak out; capillaries opened up

Malignancy, pneumonia, TB (most common cause of pleural effusion worldwide)

Question 3

Imaging

Answer 3

Lateral decubitus position

Question 4

Light’s criteria

Answer 4

LDHf (fluid comes first)
LDHf/LDHs (fluid/serum)
TPf/ TPs (total protein)

A ratio closer to 1 indicates that it is exudate (fluid contains more protein)

ALL HAVE TO BE NEGATIVE FOR IT TO BE A TRANSUDATE

Question 5

Malignant metastatic cancer

Answer 5

Stage IV if pleural effusion shows cancer