Pleural effusion is the abnormal accumulation of fluid in the pleural space (the space between the lung and chest wall), causing lung compression and breathing difficulty.
Common Symptoms
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain (pleuritic)
• Dry cough
• Reduced exercise tolerance
Common Causes
• Heart failure
• Tuberculosis (TB)
• Pneumonia (parapneumonic effusion)
• Malignancy
• Liver cirrhosis
• Kidney disease
Diagnosis
• Chest X-ray
• Ultrasound chest
• CT chest
• Pleural fluid analysis (thoracentesis)
Treatment
• Treat the underlying cause
• Therapeutic thoracentesis/drainage when indicated
Key Message:
"Pleural effusion is a collection of excess fluid around the lungs that can cause breathlessness and requires evaluation to identify the underlying cause."
