Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 22, 2026

Local Anesthetic Thoracoscopy for Undiagnosed Pleural Effusion
Published on: November 10, 2023
A case of recurrent pleural effusion: tuberculous pleurisy or other disease? A case report
1Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, Anhui, 241001, P. R. China.
Background:
POEMS syndrome (polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, M-protein, skin changes) is a paraneoplastic syndrome caused by a plasma cell proliferative disorder. Although POEMS syndrome can cause polyserous effusions, the report of pleural effusion as the main manifestation is not common. Here, we describe a case of POEMS syndrome misdiagnosed as tuberculous pleurisy due to massive pleural effusion.
Case Presentation:
A 70-year-old man was admitted with chest tightness and was diagnosed with tuberculous pleurisy. Despite receiving anti-tuberculosis treatment, patient exhibited ineffective responses and developed numbness in his lower limbs, indicative of an adverse drug reaction.Adjustment of medication and nutritional nerve treatment yielded no significant improvement. Then he was admitted for the second time three months later. Subsequent auxiliary examinations revealed positive M protein, elevated VEGF(vascular endothelial growth factor), peripheral neuropathy, and endocrine disorders, ultimately confirming the diagnosis of POEMS syndrome.
Conclusions:
POEMS syndrome can be mainly characterized by pleural effusion. When the cause of pleural effusion is unknown, POEMS syndrome should be suspected.
Related Concept Videos
Pleural Effusion II: Symptoms and Management
A pleural effusion is the abnormal collection of fluid between the parietal and visceral pleura layers of tissue that form the lining of the lungs and chest cavity. It can occur independently or due to surrounding parenchymal diseases, such as infection, malignancy, or inflammatory conditions.
Clinical Manifestations:
Pleural Effusion I: Introduction
There are two main types of pleural effusion: transudative and exudative. They are differentiated using Light's criteria,...
Pneumothorax-II
Clinical Manifestations:
Pulmonary Tuberculosis III
The first classification is based on the development of the disease, and it includes the following categories:
Pleural Disorders: Types and Brief Description
Pulmonary Tuberculosis IV
Several diagnostic approaches are used to detect TB. The conventional method is the Tuberculin Skin Test (TST), also known as the Mantoux test. However, this method has...