Gulsum Iclal Bayhan1, Fuat Sayir2, Gonul Tanir3, Oguz Tuncer4. 1. Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Yildirim Beyazit University, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. 2. Department of Thoracic Surgery, Yuzuncu Yil University, Faculty of Medicine, Van, Turkey. 3. Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Dr. Sami Ulus Maternity and Children's Health and Diseases Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. 4. Department of General Pediatrics, Yuzuncu Yil University, Faculty of Medicine, Van, Turkey.
Abstract
Background: Pleural tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis is sometimes controversial because the microbiologic confirmation ratio is very low in pleural fluid. There are few pediatric pleural TB case series in the literature. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated our TB cases below 18 years of age and extracted pleural TB cases. Results: Seven cases with pleural TB were identified. About 42.9% of the patients had isolated pleural TB whereas 57.1% of the patients had accompanying pulmonary TB. Lymphocytic pleural effusion and increased adenosine deaminase (ADA) (>40 U/L) level are found in 85.7% of the patients. Six patients had uncomplicated effusion (transudate) according to Light's criteria and one had complicated effusion (exudate). Lung decortication was needed in three patients. All patients were given 6 months anti-TB medication and recovered completely. Conclusion: In the lymphocyte-predominant pleural effusion, an increased ADA level highly supported TB disease. The complicated effusion (exudate) in pleural TB is not rule; uncomplicated effusion (transudate) could be seen.
Background: Pleural tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis is sometimes controversial because the microbiologic confirmation ratio is very low in pleural fluid. There are few pediatric pleural TB case series in the literature. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated our TB cases below 18 years of age and extracted pleural TB cases. Results: Seven cases with pleural TB were identified. About 42.9% of the patients had isolated pleural TB whereas 57.1% of the patients had accompanying pulmonary TB. Lymphocytic pleural effusion and increased adenosine deaminase (ADA) (>40 U/L) level are found in 85.7% of the patients. Six patients had uncomplicated effusion (transudate) according to Light's criteria and one had complicated effusion (exudate). Lung decortication was needed in three patients. All patients were given 6 months anti-TB medication and recovered completely. Conclusion: In the lymphocyte-predominant pleural effusion, an increased ADA level highly supported TB disease. The complicated effusion (exudate) in pleural TB is not rule; uncomplicated effusion (transudate) could be seen.