Disease of the pleura Flashcards
What are causes of pneumothorax?
Spontaneous rupture of abscess or empysematous bulla
Trauma rupture or perforation of lung/trachea
Penetrating injury of the thoracic wall
Circulatory disturbances can cause pleural effusions in the thorax. Give 4 examples of this
Hydrothorax
Haemothorax
Pyothorax
Chylothorax
What is hydrothorax?
Oedema/transudate in the pleural space
What can cause hydrothorax?
Heart failure
Hypoproteinaemia
Intrathoracic tumours
What can cause haemothorax?
Trauma
Rupture of blood vessels
Erosion of blood vessels by tumour
Clotting disorders
What is chylothorax?
Lymphatic tissue in the pleural space
What can cause chylothorax?
Traumatic rupture of thoracic duct
Neolastic erosion of thoracic duct
Congenital anomaly to thoracic duct
Heart disease
What can cause pyothorax (pus in the pleural space)?
Penetrating injury
Lung abscess rupture
Give examples of common bacteria found in pyothorax
E.coli
Streptococci
Actinomyces
What is pleuritis commonly known as?
Pleurisy
What are some causes of pleurisy?
Pneumonia Bacteraemia Pyothorax FIP Lung lobe torsion
How is pleurisy classified?
By type of exudate
E.g. fibrinous, suppurative, granulomatous
Give an example of a primary neoplasia of the pleura
Mesothelioma
Give 2 examples of mediastinal neoplasias
Thymoma
Lymphoma
