Background: Tubercular Pleural effusion is commonest cause of Pleural effusion in India

Aim: To study the Clinico–demographic profile & Basis of diagnosis of tubercular pleural effusion.

Material & methods: Cases of Tubercular pleural effusions enrolled for ATT under DOTS for study duration of 2 years were enrolled.

Results: 224 cases of pleural effusion were enrolled. The average age was 37years with male preponderance. Right side effusion (n=141), Left sided (n=68) and only 15 Bilateral were present. Basis of diagnosis in majority was Pleural fluid tests. In 48 patients Gene Xpert MTB test had been done with only 10 reporting Presence of  M.Tb .

Conclusion: the basis of diagnosis in all cases of tubercular pleural effusion was various tests of pleural fluid and not merely presence of effusion in radiological tests