title: The value of pleural fluid analysis.
abstract: Pleural fluid analysis in isolation may have clinical value. To have the greatest diagnostic impact, the clinician must formulate a prethoracentesis diagnosis based on the clinical presentation, blood tests, and radiographic imaging. With this approach, a definitive or confident clinical diagnosis can be expected in up to 95% of patients. The information in this report should allow the clinician to achieve this goal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Allergy and Sleep Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina 29425, USA. sahnsa@musc.edu
authors.forename: Steven A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Sahn
mesh_terms: D005122:Exudates and Transudates; D005947:Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology* / Q000201:enzymology; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D011506:Proteins; D005947:Glucose