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To determine the cause of pleural effusion is not always easy. It frequently requires the use of different diagnostic techniques, some of which are invasive. Invasive local procedures such as pleural biopsy are indicated only in patients with pleural effusions secondary to pleural abnormalities in which cases the effusions are usually exudative. Therefore, the distinction between an exudate and a transudate is the first and most important step for the differential diagnosis of pleural effusion and can be done by knowing various biochemical parameters. This distinction helps to know the pathophysiology differential diagnosis and etiology of the underlying cause of effusion and need of further investigations and proper management.

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Dr Anita Kale is a post graduate M.D in Clinical Biochemistry and has fifteen years of teaching experience. She has also pursued MPhil in health professions education from DMIMS, DU, Wardha. She has more than fifteen publications in national and international indexed journals and a book to her credit.

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