What diagnostic finding is indicative of bilothorax? A) The presence of bacteria in the pleural fluid. B) A fluid bilirubin concentration that is equal to peripheral blood bilirubi... What diagnostic finding is indicative of bilothorax? A) The presence of bacteria in the pleural fluid. B) A fluid bilirubin concentration that is equal to peripheral blood bilirubin. C) A peripheral blood bilirubin to fluid bilirubin ratio greater than 1:1. D) A peripheral blood bilirubin to fluid bilirubin ratio less than 1:1.
Understand the Problem
The question is asking for a specific diagnostic finding that indicates the presence of bilothorax, which is a condition involving the accumulation of bile in the pleural space. It provides multiple-choice options focusing on bilirubin concentrations in pleural fluid compared to peripheral blood.
Answer
A peripheral blood bilirubin to fluid bilirubin ratio less than 1:1.
The final answer is D) A peripheral blood bilirubin to fluid bilirubin ratio less than 1:1.
Answer for screen readers
The final answer is D) A peripheral blood bilirubin to fluid bilirubin ratio less than 1:1.
More Information
Bilothorax is diagnosed using a pleural fluid-to-serum bilirubin ratio greater than 1. This indicates that the bilirubin concentration in the pleural fluid is higher than in the blood, characteristic of bilothorax.
Tips
A common mistake is confusing the ratios, remembering that for bilothorax, the pleural fluid bilirubin is greater than the serum bilirubin, resulting in a ratio of less than 1 from serum to pleural fluid.
Sources
- Bilothorax: A Rare Complication of Gallstone Disease - archbronconeumol.org
- An Unusual Cause of Bilateral Exudative Pleural Effusion | Cureus - cureus.com
- Bilothorax: A Case Report and Systematic Literature Review of the ... - pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
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