Discussion
Diagnosis With Brief Discussion
- Diagnosis
- Pleural tuberculosis
- Radiologic Findings
- Chest Radiograph shows multiple well-demarcated nodules in the left mid lung zone, lateral aspect.
CT scans show multiple well-demarcated nodules with small amorphous calcifications but no enhancement in the pleura. However, there is no definite lung parenchymal abnormality.
- Brief Review
- Tuberculous pleural effusion is considered to result from rupture of subpleural foci of necrosis into the adjacent pleural surface (1). Less commonly, it is caused by hematogenous dissemination and contamination by the adjacent infected lymph nodes. Classically, tuberculous effusion associated with acute symptom and the absence of radiographically evident parenchymal lung disease has been felt to represent primary infection. Generally, this clinical and radiologic constellation has bee seen in children and young adults (2). By contrast, tuberculous effusion with an indolent course and with parenchymal lung disease in older patients has been considered to be a manifestation of reactivation. However, such a clear-cut distinction between primary and postprimary disease cannot always be made with certainty (3).
- References
- 1. Fraser RG, Muller NL, Colman N, Pare PD. Diagnosis of diseases of the chest 4 th ed. Philadelphia Saunders, 1999;2743-2746
2. Sahn SA. The pleura. Am Rev Respir Dis 1988; 138:84-188
3. Antoiskis D, Amin K, Barns PF. Pleuritis as a manifestation of reactivation of tuberculosis Am J Med 1990; 89:447-451
- Keywords
- Pleura, Infection, bacterial infection, Tuberculosis,