Table 3.
Diagnostic yields of effusion culture, sputum culture and pleural biopsy for tuberculous pleurisy
| Diagnostic procedures | n (%) |
| Positive effusion culture | 241/382 (63) |
| Positive sputum culture | 124/241 (51) |
| Negative sputum culture | 89/241 (37) |
| Sputum culture not performed | 28/241 (12) |
| Negative effusion culture | 141/385 (37) |
| Positive sputum culture | 60/141 (43) |
| Negative sputum culture | 64/141 (45) |
| Sputum culture not performed | 17/141 (12) |
| Positive sputum culture | 184/382 (48) |
| Positive sputum culture/sputum culture performed | 184/337 (55) |
| Positive AFB smear/positive sputum culture | 39/184 (21) |
| Combining effusion and sputum cultures | 301/382 (79) |
| Pleural biopsy performed | 149/382 (39) |
| Observation of granuloma | 110/149 (74) |
| Positive tissue culture/tissue culture performed | 41/104 (39) |
| Either positive tissue culture or histology | 112/149 (75) |
AFB, acid-fast bacillus.