Pleural Effusion: Sensitivity and Specificity

Introduction: None written.

The sensitivity and specificity of findings for Pleural Effusion are listed below. See the left navigation bar to change the display.

Imaging

37.5%

100%

NOTE: Sensitivity for the right hemithorax was ~50% while on the left it was ~25%!

Study: J Am Coll Cardiol. 2000 May;35(6):1638-46 PMID: 10807471

92%

94.1%

thoracic ultrasound

Study: J Am Coll Cardiol. 2000 May;35(6):1638-46 PMID: 10807471

Physical Exam

Finding	Sensitivity	Specificity	Comments, Study
Absent breath sounds	88%	90%	Study: Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine April 2008 vol. 75 no. 4 297-303 http://www.ccjm.org/content/75/4/297.full.pdf+html
Asymmetric lung expansion	74%	91%	Study: Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine April 2008 vol. 75 no. 4 297-303 http://www.ccjm.org/content/75/4/297.full.pdf+html
Asymmetric tactile fremitus	82%	86%	Study: Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine April 2008 vol. 75 no. 4 297-303 http://www.ccjm.org/content/75/4/297.full.pdf+html
Auscultatory dullness to percussion	95%	100%	This involves percussing (tapping) the along patient's back while listening on the ipsilateral side with the stethoscope below the diaphragm. See the study for more details. Other techniques have yielded lower sensitivities, down to 19%. Study: Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine April 2008 vol. 75 no. 4 297-303 http://www.ccjm.org/content/75/4/297.full.pdf+html
Dullness to percussion	89%	71%	Study: Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine April 2008 vol. 75 no. 4 297-303 http://www.ccjm.org/content/75/4/297.full.pdf+html
Pleural Rub	5%	99%	Study: Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine April 2008 vol. 75 no. 4 297-303 http://www.ccjm.org/content/75/4/297.full.pdf+html