Abstract

The sensitivity and specificity of Light’s criteria was found as 100% and 74%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of Kokturk formula 1, 2 and 3 was 98% and 91%, 95% and 94%, and 96% and 94%, respectively. Yildiz 1 formula offered 93% sensitivity and %94 specificity. The sensitivity and specificity of Yildiz formula 2 and 3 were found to be equal with 95% and 91%, respectively. The specificity of Kokturk formula 1, 2 and 3 was significantly higher than Light criteria (both, p<0.05). The sensitivity was also significantly higher in Kokturk formula 1, 2 and 3 than the serum to pleural fluid albumin gradient between and (both, p<0.05). The sensitivity of Light’s criteria was significantly higher than Yildiz formula 1, 2 and 3 (both, p<0.05), while the specificity was significantly lower (both, p<0.05). In addition to recent reports, we also showed that Kokturk formulas are superior to Light’s criteria in differentiating exudative from transudative pleural effusion. In this context, following studies performed with large series and meta-analysis, it likely to replace Light’s criteria by Kokturk formula in the future.