Causes of pleural effusions
| Diagnosis | n (% ) |
| Exudates (n=156) | |
| Lung cancer | 47 (23.5%) |
| Metastatic cancer | 34 (17%) |
| Mesothelioma | 9 (4.5%) |
| Parapneumonic | 20 (10%) |
| Empyema | 14 (7%) |
| Tuberculosis | 3 (1.5%) |
| Pulmonary embolism | 11 (5.5%) |
| Pancreatitis | 6 (3%) |
| Connective tissue disease | 5 (2.5%) |
| Other exudates1-150 | 7 (3.5%) |
| Transudates (n=44) | |
| Cardiac failure | 37 (18.5%) |
| Cirrhosis of liver | 5 (2.5%) |
| Nephrotic syndrome | 2 (1%) |
| Total | 200 |
↵1-150 Dressler's syndrome 2, post-thoracic surgery 3, lymphangioleiomatosis 1, subphrenic abscess 1.