Pleural Effusion

Pleural effusion is excess fluid that accumulates in the pleural space, the fluid-filled space that surrounds the lungs. Excessive amounts of such fluid can impair breathing by limiting the expansion of the lungs during inhalation.

The most common causes of transudative pleural effusions in the United States are left ventricular failure, pulmonary embolism, and cirrhosis (causing hepatic hydrothorax), while the most common causes of exudative pleural effusions are bacterial pneumonia, cancer (with lung cancer, breast cancer, and lymphoma causing approximately 75% of all malignant pleural effusions), viral infection, and pulmonary embolism

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