A patient has a pleural effusion from an unknown cause. A fluid sample has been taken for analysis. To help identify the cause of the effusion, which of the following tests should be performed?
1) Specific gravity
2) Biochemical makeup
3) Cytologic examination
4) Bacterial culture
A)1, 3
B)1, 2, 4
C)2, 3, 4
D)1, 2, 3

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

To identify the cause of a pleural effusion, analyzing the biochemical makeup (to check for substances like proteins, lactate dehydrogenase), performing a cytologic examination (to look for cancer cells or other abnormal cells), and conducting a bacterial culture (to identify any bacterial infection) are essential. Specific gravity alone is less informative without these other tests.

A Patient Has a Pleural Effusion from an Unknown Cause