Pleural effusion

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Lungs

Pleural cavity

Respiratory system

Fluid in the chest; Pleural fluid

• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain , usually a sharp pain that is worse with cough or deep breaths
• Cough
• Hiccups
• Rapid breathing

There may be no symptoms.

During a physical examination, the doctor will listen to the sound of your breathing with a stethoscope and may tap on your chest to listen for dullness.

The following tests may help to confirm a diagnosis:

• Chest x-ray
• Thoracic CT
• Ultrasound of the chest
• Thoracentesis
• Pleural fluid analysis

The cause and type of pleural effusion is usually determined by thoracentesis (a sample of fluid is removed with a needle inserted between the ribs).

Review Date: 08/07/2006
Reviewed By: David A. Kaufman, M.D., Assistant Professor, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.