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Pleural Effusion
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When an abnormal amount of fluid accumulates in the space between the 2 layers of the pleura (the membrane that lines the surface of the lungs), it is called a pleural effusion. It is estimated that 1 million people in the United States develop a pleural effusion each year. About 20% to 60% of the people who develop pneumonia have a pleural effusion. A pleural effusion can also occur due to an extrapulmonary (outside the lungs) cause. Treatment depends on the underlying cause. The January 21, 2009, issue of JAMA includes an article about diagnosing pleural effusions.
SYMPTOMS
- Dyspnea (shortness of breath)
- Cough
- Chest pain
CAUSES OF PLEURAL EFFUSIONS
- Congestive heart failure (ineffective pumping of blood through the circulatory system due to enlargement and weakening of the heart muscle) is the most common cause of pleural effusion.
- Pneumonia is a common lung infection and may result in pleural effusion.
- Pulmonary . . . [Full Text of this Article]
Carolyn J. Hildreth, MD, Writer;
Cassio Lynm, MA, Illustrator;
Richard M. Glass, MD, Editor
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RELATED ARTICLE
Does This Patient Have a Pleural Effusion?
Camilla L. Wong, Jayna Holroyd-Leduc, and Sharon E. Straus
JAMA. 2009;301(3):309-317.
ABSTRACT
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