The clinical case here presented refers to a 67 year-old female patient who had a weight loss of 15 kilograms, during 6 months, with associated fever, anorexia and dispneea. The patient came to a stomatological consultation because she had pains during mastication and she thought of a possible consumptive syndrome. The dentist diagnosed oral aphthous lesions, secondary to a general disease and recommended a clinical examination.
A chest radiography revealed pleural effusion, and the patient was admitted to the Thoracic Surgery Clinics, Iasi. The cytology of the pleural liquid was represented by lymphocites (80%).The biopsy of pericardium and pleura revealed inflammatory infiltrates with limphocites. The adenosine deaminasa activity was 30U/l (pleural effusion) and 25 U/l (pericardial liquid).
Antituberculosis therapy and small doses of corticosteroids were recommended. Along the subsequent 1, 2 and 6 months, the evolution was favourable.
- adenosine deaminasa activity
- biopsy
- cytology
- pleuropericarditis
- tuberculosis