Pleural disease Flashcards
what is pleura?
it is a thin membrane that lines the surface of the lungs and the inside of the chest wall outside the lungs
what is a pleural effusion?
it is an unusual amount of fluid around the lung, fluid builds up in the space between the layers of pleura
what is a pleural fibrosis?
it is a fibrosis of the visceral pleura so that part or all of a lung becomes covered with a plaque or a thick layer of non-expansible fibrous tissue
what is pleural fibrosis?
it is fibrosis of the visceral pleura so that part or all of a lung becomes covered with a plaque or a thick layer of non-expansible fibrous tissue
what can cause severe restrictive lung disease?
pleural fibrosis
what is the most common cause for pleural fibrosis?
pneumonia
list common causes for pleural fibrosis
parapneumonic effusion,
empyema
tuberculosis
asbestos
what is usually considered as a complication of other disorders involving the chest cavity?
pleural fibrosis
what is a fibrothorax?
it is diffuse fibrosis of the pleural space surrounding the lungs
what are some causes of a fibrothorax?
hemothorax, pleural effusion and tuberculosis
what can induce a fibrothorax?
exposure to certain substances, as with asbestos-induced diffuse pleural fibrosis
what are pleural plaques?
they are deposits of hyalinised collagen fibres in the parietal pleura
what do pleural plaques indicate?
pleural plaques are indicative of asbestos exposure
when do pleural plaques becomes visible?
they typically become visible many years after the inhalation of asbestos fibres
what are the most common manifestation of asbestos related disease?
pleural plaques
what can be identified with a very high degree of specificity with CT?
pleural plaques
what is an empyema?
it is the collection of pus in a cavity in the body,, especially in the pleural cavity
what can develop after you have pneumonia?
an empyema
what may happen after you have had surgery on your chest?
an empyema
what causes pleural effusion?
the build up of fluid between the chest cavity and the lungs may be caused by a disease or disorder
what does someone who has pleural effusion have?
too much liquid in the pleural space
list causes of pleural effusion
congestive heart failure cirrhosis poor liver function pulmonary embolism open heart surgery complications pneumonia severe kidney disease
what are the symptoms of pleural effusion?
chest pain
dry, non-productive cough
dyspnea
orthopnea
what is dyspnea?
shortness of breath
what is orthopnea?
the inability to breathe easily unless the person is sitting or standing erect
what needs to be considered in the differential diagnosis of transudative pleural effusion?
congestive heart failure
cirrhosis with hepatic hydrothorax
what is a mesothelioma?
it is a malignant tumour that arises from the mesothelial surfaces of the pleural and peritoneal cavities, the tunica vaginalis or the pericardium
what is pleural effusion a result of?
increased fluid formation and/or reduced fluid resorption
what kind of approach for pleural effusion investigation is necessary?
a systemic approach
is the differential diagnosis for a unilateral pleural effusion wide or narrow?
wide
list four of the most common causes of transudative pleural effusions
heart failure
pulmonary embolism
cirrhosis
post open heart surgery
what is pulmonary embolism?
it is a blockage of the arteries in your lungs
what is pulmonary embolism caused by in most cases?
it is caused by blood clots that travel to the lungs from the legs or, rarely, other parts of the body (deep vein thrombosis)
basically what is pulmonary embolism?
it is a blockage of an artery in the lungs by a substance which migrated from elsewhere in the body through the bloodstream
what are symptoms of pulmonary embolism
- shortness of breath
- chest pain, particularly upon breathing in
- coughing up of blood
