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Pleural effusion

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Definition:

A pleural effusion is an accumulation of fluid between the layers of the membrane that lines the lungs and chest cavity.

Alternative Names:

Fluid in the chest; Pleural fluid

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Your body produces pleural fluid in small amounts to lubricate the surfaces of the pleura, the thin membrane that lines the chest cavity and surrounds the lungs. A pleural effusion is an abnormal collection of this fluid.

Two different types of effusions can develop:

• Transudative pleural effusions are often caused by abnormal lung pressure. Congestive heart failure is the most common cause.
• Exudative effusions form as a result of inflammation (irritation and swelling) of the pleura. This is often caused by lung disease. Examples include lung cancer , pneumonia , tuberculosis and other lung infections, drug reactions, asbestosis , and sarcoidosis .

• Review Date: 8/7/2006
• Reviewed By: David A. Kaufman, M.D., Assistant Professor, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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