Condition Lookup

Transudative Pleural Effusion

Symptoms:
shortness of breath; chest pain; cough; reduced breath sounds on the affected side; dullness to percussion on physical exam

Root Cause:
An imbalance between hydrostatic and oncotic pressures, often due to conditions such as congestive heart failure (CHF) or hypoalbuminemia.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Chest X-ray, ultrasound, CT scan, and thoracentesis (analysis of pleural fluid to confirm low protein and lactate dehydrogenase levels consistent with transudate).

Treatment:
Treating the underlying cause (e.g., diuretics for CHF, correcting hypoalbuminemia) and therapeutic thoracentesis if symptomatic relief is required.

Medications:
Diuretics, such as furosemide , are commonly prescribed to manage fluid overload in cases of CHF. Albumin infusions may be used if hypoalbuminemia is present.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Common among patients with chronic heart failure and liver or kidney disease; precise prevalence varies by population and comorbidities.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Congestive heart failure, nephrotic syndrome, liver cirrhosis, and hypoalbuminemia.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good when the underlying condition is effectively treated, but recurrence is possible if the primary cause is not addressed.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Risk of lung compression, secondary infections, and respiratory failure if untreated.

Exudative Pleural Effusion

Specialty: Pulmonology

Category: Pleural Diseases

Sub-category: Pleural Effusion

Symptoms:
shortness of breath; pleuritic chest pain; cough; fever if infection is present; reduced breath sounds and dullness to percussion

Root Cause:
Inflammation or infection of the pleura causing increased capillary permeability, often associated with conditions like pneumonia, malignancy, or pulmonary embolism.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Chest imaging (X-ray, ultrasound, CT scan) and thoracentesis with pleural fluid analysis showing high protein, high lactate dehydrogenase, and possible infection markers.

Treatment:
Treatment of the underlying cause (e.g., antibiotics for infection, chemotherapy for malignancy) and drainage via thoracentesis or chest tube placement if needed.

Medications:
Antibiotics (e.g., ceftriaxone for bacterial pneumonia), corticosteroids for inflammatory causes, and chemotherapy or targeted agents for malignancy-related effusions.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Varies depending on underlying conditions; common in cases of pneumonia, cancer, or tuberculosis in certain populations.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Lung infections, malignancy, pulmonary embolism, connective tissue diseases.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Depends on the underlying cause; potentially serious if not addressed promptly, particularly in malignancy or infection-related cases.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Empyema (infected pleural fluid), trapped lung, and respiratory failure if left untreated.

Spontaneous Pneumothorax

Specialty: Pulmonology

Category: Pleural Diseases

Sub-category: Pneumothorax

Symptoms:
sudden chest pain; shortness of breath; rapid breathing; coughing; fatigue

Root Cause:
Air leaks into the pleural space, causing partial or complete lung collapse, typically without trauma. Often due to ruptured air blisters (blebs) on the lung surface.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Chest X-ray or CT scan confirms the presence of air in the pleural space; physical examination may reveal reduced breath sounds and hyperresonance on percussion.

Treatment:
Observation for small pneumothoraces; supplemental oxygen; needle aspiration or chest tube placement for larger cases; surgery (thoracoscopy or thoracotomy) for recurrent cases.

Medications:
Pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen may be prescribed to manage discomfort.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Estimated at 7.4–18 cases per 100,000 annually in men and 1.2–6 cases per 100,000 annually in women.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Smoking, tall and thin body habitus, male gender, age 20–40, and conditions like Marfan syndrome or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Generally favorable with appropriate treatment; recurrence rates are around 30% after the first episode.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Recurrence, tension pneumothorax, infection, or chronic lung issues in severe cases.

Traumatic Pneumothorax

Specialty: Pulmonology

Category: Pleural Diseases

Sub-category: Pneumothorax

Symptoms:
chest pain; shortness of breath; difficulty breathing; visible chest injury; cyanosis (bluish skin); rapid heart rate

Root Cause:
Air enters the pleural space due to an external injury, such as blunt or penetrating chest trauma, causing lung collapse.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Chest X-ray, CT scan, or ultrasound to identify air in the pleural space; physical exam may show diminished breath sounds or tracheal deviation in severe cases.

Treatment:
Immediate needle decompression if life-threatening; chest tube placement to remove air and re-expand the lung; surgical repair for extensive injuries.

Medications:
Antibiotics to prevent or treat infections, and pain management with opioids or NSAIDs.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Incidence is variable, depending on trauma prevalence; more common in trauma centers and emergency settings.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
High-risk activities (e.g., motor vehicle accidents, contact sports), rib fractures, medical procedures like central line placement, or penetrating injuries.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Favorable with timely intervention, though recovery may take weeks depending on severity.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Infection, tension pneumothorax, and long-term lung scarring or reduced function.

Pleural Mesothelioma

Specialty: Pulmonology

Category: Pleural Diseases

Sub-category: Malignancies

Symptoms:
chest pain; shortness of breath; persistent cough; unexplained weight loss; fatigue; pleural effusion (fluid buildup)

Root Cause:
A rare, aggressive cancer caused by asbestos exposure, originating in the pleura (lining of the lungs).

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Diagnosed through imaging studies (chest X-ray, CT, PET scans), biopsy of pleural tissue, and blood tests for biomarkers like mesothelin.

Treatment:
Multimodal treatment includes surgery (e.g., pleurectomy/decortication or extrapleural pneumonectomy), chemotherapy (e.g., cisplatin with pemetrexed), and radiation therapy.

Medications:
Chemotherapy drugs such as cisplatin (a platinum-based agent) and pemetrexed (an antifolate agent) are commonly used. Immunotherapy agents like nivolumab may also be considered.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare, with approximately 2,500 to 3,000 new cases annually in the U.S.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Prolonged asbestos exposure, older age, male gender, smoking (synergistic risk with asbestos).

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Poor, with a median survival of 12-21 months post-diagnosis; earlier stages have better outcomes.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Respiratory failure, metastasis, pleural effusion, and severe chest pain.

Pleurisy (Pleuritis)

Specialty: Pulmonology

Category: Pleural Diseases

Sub-category: Inflammatory Conditions

Symptoms:
sharp chest pain that worsens with breathing; shortness of breath; dry cough; fever in infectious cases

Root Cause:
Inflammation of the pleura, often caused by viral or bacterial infection, autoimmune diseases, or lung injury.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Diagnosed through physical examination, chest X-ray, ultrasound, CT scan, and blood tests for inflammation markers and infection.

Treatment:
Treatment targets the underlying cause

Medications:
NSAIDs like ibuprofen (anti-inflammatory); antibiotics such as amoxicillin (beta-lactam) for bacterial infections; and corticosteroids like prednisone (immunosuppressant) in autoimmune cases.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Varies widely; more common in viral infections and autoimmune conditions.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Respiratory infections, autoimmune diseases, trauma to the chest, or a history of pleural effusion.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good if treated promptly, with most cases resolving within a few weeks. Chronic cases may occur with underlying autoimmune conditions.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Pleural effusion, empyema, or fibrosis if untreated.