Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma-associated pleural effusion misdiagnosed as tubercular pleural effusion

Adenosine deaminase (ADA) in the pleural fluid has high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing tubercular pleuritis. ADA level of more than 40 IU/L in a lymphocytic and exudative effusion is suggestive of tubercular etiology in clinical practice. Antitubercular chemotherapy is often instituted w...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Sonali Mallik, Ananda Datta, Amanpreet Kaur, Swagatika Samal
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2023-01-01
Series:Journal of Advanced Lung Health
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.jalh.org/article.asp?issn=2772-7165;year=2023;volume=3;issue=3;spage=108;epage=112;aulast=Mallik
Description
Summary:Adenosine deaminase (ADA) in the pleural fluid has high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing tubercular pleuritis. ADA level of more than 40 IU/L in a lymphocytic and exudative effusion is suggestive of tubercular etiology in clinical practice. Antitubercular chemotherapy is often instituted without further histopathological or microbiological confirmation, especially in tuberculosis (TB)-endemic countries. Lymphoma is another important cause of elevated ADA levels in pleural fluid. Hence, in the absence of tissue diagnosis, lymphoma is often wrongly labeled as TB based on fluid characteristics. Here, we present a case of non-Hodgkin lymphoma with right-side pleural effusion who was initially misdiagnosed to have TB based on pleural fluid analysis.
ISSN:2772-7165
2772-7173