Tuberculous pleural effusion is characterized by all except?: (A) Hemorrhage, (B) LDH more than 60%, (C) Protein is increased, (D) Mesothelial cells
Answer is D. Mesothelial cells are found in variable numbers in most effusions, but their presence at greater than 5% of total nucleated cells makes a diagnosis of TB less likely. Markedly increased number of mesothelial cells, especially in bloody eosinophilic effusions, suggests pulmonary embolism as the cause of an effusion.