Pleural effusion

A pleural effusion is when there is a large amount of fluid in the pleural space, the potential space that surrounds each lung.

Pleural effusion
Diagram of fluid buildup in the pleura

There are many types of pleural effusion and they include:

• Serous fluid (hydrothorax)
• Blood (haemothorax)
• Chyle (chylothorax)
• Pus (pyothorax or empyema)
• Urine (urinothorax)

Pleural Effusion Media

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  Pleural Effusion. See a full animation of this medical topic.

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  Pleural effusion Anteroposterior Chest X-ray of a pleural effusion. The A arrow shows fluid layering in the right pleural cavity. The B arrow shows the normal width of the lung in the cavity

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  A large left-sided pleural effusion as seen on an upright chest X-ray

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  Instruments for needle biopsy of the pleura.

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  Massive left-sided pleural effusion (whiteness) in a patient presenting with lung cancer.

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  CT scan of the chest showing a left-sided pleural effusion. The fluid usually settles at the lowest space due to gravity; in this case, at the back because the patient is supine.

• The lung expanding within an area of pleural effusion as seen by ultrasound

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  Micrograph of a pleural fluid cytopathology specimen showing malignant mesothelioma, one cause of a pleural effusion.

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  A pleural effusion as seen on lateral upright chest x-ray

• Pleural effusion as seen behind the heart.