OVERVIEW
Pleural effusion is a collection of fluid around your lungs. Your provider has to get rid of this fluid with medicine or a procedure. Also, they need to diagnose and treat the condition that caused pleural effusion. Treatments range from medicine to surgery. Pleural effusion can happen more than once. Your outlook depends on what caused it.
What is pleural effusion?
Pleural effusion, which some people call “water on the lungs,” is the buildup of excess fluid between the layers of the pleura outside your lungs. The pleura are thin membranes that line your lungs and the inside of your chest cavity.
Normally, everyone has a small amount of fluid in their pleura. This fluid acts as a natural lubricant and makes it easier for your lungs to move when you breathe. But with pleural effusion, you have too much fluid around your lungs. This means your body is producing too much of the fluid or not absorbing enough of the fluid it makes.
How common is pleural effusion?
Pleural effusions are very common. Healthcare providers find pleural effusions in about 1.5 million people in the United States each year.
Symptoms
Causes
What are the risk factors for pleural effusion?
What are the complications of pleural effusion?
Diagnosis of Pleural Effusion
- Physical Examination: Doctors listen for reduced breath sounds or dullness during chest tapping, indicating fluid buildup.
- Imaging Tests:
- Chest X-ray: Identifies fluid presence and extent.
- Ultrasound: Provides precise location and helps guide procedures.
- CT Scan: Offers detailed images to detect the underlying cause.
- Thoracentesis: A needle is used to extract fluid from the pleural space for analysis, identifying infections, cancer, or other causes.