An unusual case of a pleural effusion with an abdominal mass.
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2008-07-24
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
A 38-year-old man presented to us with a left sided pleural effusion. Pleural fluid was aspirated and analysis revealed it to be an exudate with predominant lymphocytes and an elevated ADA level. He was discharged on antituberculous treatment. Patient returned with re-accumulation of pleural fluid. Computed tomography done in our institute picked up not only parenchymal disease in the lung which was not evident on chest radiographs but also picked up an abdominal mass in the left renal fossa. Pathological examination of excised mass revealed its tuberculous nature. The repeated recollection of pleural fluid was attributed to a "paradoxical response"; the patient was reassured and his anti-tuberculous treatment continued. Recognition of the fact that evidence of tuberculosis at distant sites may occasionally be needed to substantiate the diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusion in a difficult and bacteriologically "negative" case prompted us to report this case.
Description
Keywords
Citation
Acharya PR, Sahoo R, Baliga P. An unusual case of a pleural effusion with an abdominal mass. Indian Journal of Tuberculosis. 2008 Jul; 55(3): 153-6