The most common cause of pleural effusion is congestive heart failure. Lung diseases, like COPD , tuberculosis, and acute lung injury, cause pneumothorax. Injury to the chest is the most common cause of hemothorax. Treatment focuses on removing fluid, air, or blood from the pleural space, relieving symptoms, and treating the underlying condition. The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice.
Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health. Pleural Disorders. Learn More Specifics Genetics. See, Play and Learn No links available. Research Clinical Trials Journal Articles. Resources Reference Desk Find an Expert. For You Children Patient Handouts. Disorders of the pleura include Pleurisy - inflammation of the pleura that causes sharp pain with breathing Pleural effusion - excess fluid in the pleural space Pneumothorax - buildup of air or gas in the pleural space Hemothorax - buildup of blood in the pleural space Many different conditions can cause pleural problems.
Start Here. Diagnosis and Tests. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. In addition, pleural fluid creates surface tension that helps maintain the position of the lungs against the chest wall. The pleurae also serve as a division between other organs in the body, preventing them from interfering with lung function and vice versa.
Because the pleura is self-contained, it can help prevent the spread of infection to and from the lungs. A number of conditions can cause injury to the pleura or undermine its function.
Harm to the membranes or overload of pleural fluid can affect how you breathe and lead to adverse respiratory symptoms. Pleurisy is inflammation of the pleural membranes. It is most commonly caused by a viral infection but may also be the result of a bacterial infection or an autoimmune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus.
Pleuritic inflammation causes the membrane surfaces to become rough and sticky. Rather than sliding over each other, they membranes stick together, triggering sharp, stabbing pain with every breath, sneeze, or cough. The pain can get worse when inhaling cold air or taking a deep breath. It can also worsen during movement or shifts in position. Other symptoms include fever, chills, and loss of appetite. A pleural effusion is the accumulation of excess fluid in the pleural space.
When this happens, breathing can be impaired, sometimes significantly. Congestive heart failure is the most common cause of a pleural effusion, but there is a multitude of other causes, including lung trauma or lung cancer in which effusion is experienced in roughly half of all cases. A pleural effusion can be very small detectable only by a chest X-ray or CT scan or be large and contain several pints of fluid. A malignant pleural effusion refers to an effusion that contains cancer cells.
It's most commonly associated with lung cancer or breast cancer that has metastasized spread to the lungs. Pleural mesothelioma is a cancer of the pleura that most often is caused by occupational exposure to asbestos. Symptoms include pain in the shoulder, chest or lower back, shortness of breath, trouble swallowing, and swelling of the face and arms. Pneumothorax , also known as a collapsed lung, can develop when air collects in the pleural cavity. It may be caused by any number of things, including chest trauma, chest surgery, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD.
In addition to shortness of breath, there may be crepitus, an abnormal crackling sound from just under the skin of the neck and chest. Spontaneous pneumothorax is a term used to describe when a lung collapses for no apparent reason. Tall, thin adolescent males are at greatest risk, although females can also be affected.
Risk factors include smoking, connective tissue disorders, and activities such as scuba diving and flying in which atmospheric pressure changes rapidly. Pneumothorax can often heal on its own but may sometimes require thoracentesis to extract any accumulated air from the pleural cavity.
Hemothorax is a condition in which the pleural cavity fills with blood, typically as a result of traumatic injury or chest surgery; rarely, a hemothorax can happen spontaneously due to a vascular rupture. The main symptom of hemothorax is pain or a feeling of heaviness in the chest. Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life.
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