Abstract: Objective To determine the differential diagnosis value of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and adenosine deaminase (ADA) measured jointly between malignant and tuberculous pleural effusion.Method ADA and CEA in pleural fluid and serum from 48 patients with malignant pleural effusion and 156 patients with tubeculous were determined.Results The value of CEA (pleural effusion/serum) in malignant pleural effusion was significantly higher than in tuberculous pleural effusion (P<0.01);While the value of ADA (pleural effusion/serum) in tuberculous was significantly higher than in malignant pleural effusion/serum.The positive rates of CEA in tuberculous and malignant pleural effusion were 5.22% and 86.36% respectively,and the specificity was 13.63% and 94.78%.The positive rates of ADA in tuberculous and malignant pleural effusion were 67.95% and 6.25% respectively,and specificity was 93.75% and 32.05%.Conclusion The detection of CEA and ADA is of great value in diagosing and differentiating tuberculous pleural effusion from malignant pleural effusion.

Key words: pleural effusion, CEA, ADA, diagnosis value