Tuberculous pleural effusion

Definition

Tuberculous (TB) pleural infusion is a fluid accumulation in the space between the lining of the lung and the lung tissue (pleural space), caused by a severe, usually prolonged infection with tuberculosis. As the number of patients with HIV and AIDS increases, this condition is occurring more often. See tuberculosis and pleural effusion

Exams and Tests

Fluid can be "tapped" from the pleural space, but the fluid is not often positivef or the TB organism under the microscope or in culture . The best way to make the diagnosis is to get a piece of the pleural tissue by biopsy, which is more likely to yield the organism through a culture or thrrough staining. In staining, a special dye is added to a sample. The dye is taken up by the organism, which then appears colored under a microscope.