A Cross-Sectional Study on the Accuracy of Volume Assessment of Pleural Effusion by Ultrasonography with Pleural Tap as the Gold Standard in Tertiary Care Setting, Rawalpindi

Abstract

Objective: To determine the accuracy of three-dimensional ultrasound for volume estimation of pleural
effusion, keeping the volume obtained by pleural tap as the gold standard.
Study Design: Cross-sectional study.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the Department of Radiology, Combined Military
Hospital (CMH), Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from 1^st January 2023 to 30^th June 2023.
Methods: A total of 219 patients who fulfilled the selection criteria were included in the study. After detailed
history and clinical examination, all patients underwent volume estimation of pleural effusion by ultrasound
using a three-dimensional approach, i.e., anteroposterior, transverse, and craniocaudal. Subsequently, all
participants underwent a pleural tap to drain fluid in order to estimate the actual volume. All findings were
noted down on a predesigned proforma and accuracy of ultrasonography was assessed.
Results: The mean age of the patients was 42.62±12.96 years, with 112 (51.14%) males. The mean estimated
volume of pleural effusion on USG was 668.94 (312 – 963) ml while on thoracentesis was 641.95 (310 - 999) ml.
Pneumonia 93 (42.47%) was the leading cause, followed by hemothorax 37(16.89%). 89 (40.64%) had mild,
while 11(5.02%) had severe pleural effusion, and the rest had moderate pleural effusion. The sensitivity,
specificity, and accuracy of ultrasonography for mild pleural effusion (estimated volume was >10 to <500 ml)
was 82.29%, 91.86% and 87.67%, for moderate pleural effusion (estimated volume was >500 to <1500 ml) was
86.95%, 81.73% and 84.47% and for severe pleural effusion (estimated volume was >1500 ml) it was 85.71%,
97.64% and 97.26%, respectively.
Conclusion: Volume estimation by three-dimensional ultrasound had a high sensitivity, specificity, and
accuracy for varying severity of pleural effusion, keeping pleural tap as the gold standard.

How to cite this: Bakhtyar A, Dildar N, Amir H, Awais A, Iqbal M, Zahid A. A Cross-Sectional Study on the Accuracy of Volume Assessment of Pleural Effusion by Ultrasonography with Pleural Tap as the Gold Standard in Tertiary Care Setting, Rawalpindi. Life and Science. 2025; 6(3): 331-337. doi: http://doi.org/10.37185/LnS.1.1.558