Real-time ultrasound evaluation of tuberculous pleural effusions.

An evaluation of 21 patients with tuberculous pleurisy was carried out to assess the role of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusion. Ultrasonography revealed winding structures of different lengths and thicknesses (winding bands) in 8 patients, and filiform structures of a higher echogenicity and a shorter length (linear echoes) in 13. These findings were associated with exudates having a high content of fibrin and protein, respectively, suggesting that winding bands might be formed by fibrin and linear echoes by protein macroaggregates. Based upon these observations, ultrasonography seems to be a useful method for identifying tuberculous pleural effusion.