Table 164-2.
PLEURAL FLUID ANALYSIS PATTERNS*
| Fluid Category | TP | WBC/ml | Disease Associations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transudate | <1.5 | <1,000 | CHF (early); hypoproteinemia |
| Modified transudate | 2.5–5 | 1,000–7,000 | CHF; neoplasia (e.g., lymphoma); diaphragmatic hernia; pulmonary thromboembolism |
| Nonseptic exudate | 3–6 | 5,000–20,000 | FIP; neoplasia; diaphragmatic hernia; lung lobe torsion; pancreatitis; pulmonary thromboembolism |
| Septic exudate | 3–7 | 5,000–300,000 | Septic pleuritis (pyothorax) |
| Chylous effusion | 2.5–6 | 1,000–20,000 | CHF; lymphoma; thoracic lymphangiectasia; heartworms; jugular vein thrombosis (catheter-induced); diaphragmatic hernia; lung lobe torsion |
| Hemorrhage | >3.0 | 5,000–20,000 | Trauma, coagulopathy, neoplasia, lung lobe torsion |
TP, total protein (g/dl).
*
The six basic fluid patterns and their most frequent clinical associations are indicated. Any of these can be subcategorized as neoplastic if neoplastic cells are present on cytologic evaluation.