Pleural and Mediastinal Pathology

Question 1

Pleural effusion

Answer 1

> 15 mL accumulation of fluid in the pleural space

Question 2

Pleural effusions secondary to:

Answer 2

Increased hydrostatic pressure
Decreased osmotic pressure
Increased vascular permeability

Question 3

Types of inflammatory pleural effusions

Answer 3

Serofibrinous
Suppurative
Hemorrhagic

Question 4

Types of non-inflammatry pleural effusions

Answer 4

Hydrothorax
Hemothorax
Chylothorax

Question 5

Air or gas within the pleural cavity

Answer 5

Pneumothorax

Question 6

3 types of pneumothorax

Answer 6

Spontaneous
Traumatic
Therapeutic

Question 7

Two common types of pneumothorax

Answer 7

Spontaneous: idiopathic, secondary to rupture of pleural bleb or bulla
Tension: penetrating trauma to lungs, flap-like defect that acts like a valve allowing air in but not out –sudden onset, EMERGENCY

Question 8

Inflammation of Mediastinum

Answer 8

Acute mediastinitis: complication of conditions affecting neighboring organs (esophageal perforation, perforation of lung abscess, sternal osteomyelitis)
Granulomatous mediastinitus: chronic disorder secondary to fungal or mycobacterial infection
Idiopathic sclerosing mediastinitis: unknown etiology

Question 9

What is thymic hyperplasia associated with?

Answer 9

Associated with myasthenia gravis and autoimmune disorders

Question 10

Two types of primary thymic neoplasms?

Answer 10

Thymoma

Thymic carcinoma

Question 11

Histology of Thymomas

Answer 11

Type A = Spindle cells
Type B = Round cells
Type AB = mixture

Question 12

How is thymic carcinoma diagnosed?

Answer 12

Diagnosis of exclusion

Question 13

Benign pleural neoplasm, composed of fibroblasts and abundant collagenized stroma
Associated with hypoglycemia and clubbing of fingers

Answer 13

Solitary fibrous tumor (Pleura Fibroma)