Urinalysis and Body Fluids 6th Edition by Majorie DiLorenzo, Susan Strasinger

Exercise 28

A milky-appearing pleural fluid indicates:

A. Thoracic duct leakage

B. Chronic inflammation

C. Microbial infection

D. Both A and B

Step 1 of 2

Pleural fluid:

The pleural fluid is found in pleural cavity. The pleural cavity is located between parietal pleural membrane and visceral pleural membrane. Parietal plural membrane covers the chest wall and visceral pleural membrane covers the lungs.

Milky appearance-pleural fluid:

Pleural liquid may appear milky due to following reasons.

• Chylous material produced in thoracic duct leakage, which contains high concentration of triglycerides causes milky appearance

• Pseudochylous material produced in the chronic inflammatory conditions, which contains high concentration of cholesterol causes milky appearance

Therefore, the conditions “thoracic duct leakage” and “chronic inflammation” is associated with milky appearing pleural fluid. Hence, the correct answer is option.