Diagnostic Accuracy of Pleural Fluid Protein in DifferentiatingTuberculous and Malignant Pleural Effusion
Abstract
Objective: The utility of pleural fluid protein in differentiating between malignant and tuberculous conditions in patients with pleural effusions, with histology serving as the gold standard for diagnosis.Methods
Cross-sectional (validation) study. Patients were referred from in- and out-of-door patient departments. Patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria underwent Abrams needle biopsies according to routine and following the obtaining of informed written consent, and the pleural tissue was examined by a single histopathologist. A pleural fluid protein cut-off value of 5 g/dl for tuberculosis was marked.Results
In this study, we identified 209 patients with suspected tuberculous or malignant pleural effusions. Mean age was 42.7 + 10.8 SD. In the diagnosis of cancer, pleural fluid protein has a positive predictive value of 35.9%, a negative predictive value of 98.82%, and sensitivity and specificity of 87.5% and 87.05%, respectively. The overall diagnostic performance of pleural fluid protein for cancer was 87.08%.Conclusion
When combined with a suitable clinical setting, the pleural fluid total protein level is a useful diagnostic tool for suspected tuberculous or malignant pleural effusions.Keywords:
tuberculous pleural effusion, malignant pleural effusion, exudates, pleural biopsy, pleural fluid protein.Published
2026/06/03
Issue
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