Methods of diagnosing pleural effusion

The article was consulted professionally by Master, Dr. Dang Xuan Cuong – Department of Emergency Resuscitation – Share99 Hai Phong International Health Hub. The doctor has 14 years of experience in the field of emergency resuscitation and anti-toxicity.

Currently, there are many subclinical methods that help diagnose pleural effusion accurately and easily, including in case of less pleural effusion, malignant pleural effusion.

1. Clinical symptoms that are meant to guide the disease

For the definitive diagnosis of pleural effusion it is necessary to rely on clinical and subclinical symptoms.

Below are clinical symptoms that are more precisely intended to guide the disease.

  • The person appears short of breath when lying down. The degree of shortness of breath depends on the amount of water in the pleural cavity, the rapidly increasing amount of pleural volume causes acute shortness of breath, slowly increasing the person can adapt causing mild shortness of breath.
  • Fever or non-fever may be present, if fever is usually a manifestation of respiratory infections.
  • Chest pain in the back, smoldering pain or severe pain, increased pain when breathing deeply, coughing or changing position, when lying on the side of the effication.
  • Patients may cough dryly or cough with sputum, sometimes coughing up blood.
  • Malignant pleural effusion is often accompanied by: depleted body, thinness, fatigue, loss of appetite, often effusion many patients have difficulty breathing …

2. Methods of diagnosing pleural effusion

For a definitive diagnosis it is necessary to rely on subclinical methods:

  • Straight-tilted lung x-ray.
  • CT scan.
  • ultrasound.
  • Pleural effusion: Pleural effusion test.

Straight-inclined Lung X-ray

It is the first simple, inexpensive method used to detect pleural effusion.

Pleural effusion images on X-rays

Pleural effusion images on X-rays
  • Free pleural effusion: In less visible amounts of diaphragm corners, blurred areas at the base of the lungs, it is more visible on the inclined lung film.
  • In case of low-volume efficion, it can be difficult to detect on xquang film.
  • Cases of malignant pleural effusion: Images of pleural effusion on x-ray films are usually numerous, sometimes dimming all one side of the lungs called half-thoracic dark syndrome, which can be accompanied by tumors that cause compression of the abdomen, mediastasis or collapse of the lungs.

CT scan

  • The technique is very valuable for diagnosis in cases of complex pleural effusion, especially can tell us exactly where the pleural effusion is to be able to poke the probe.
  • Locate the tumor, medial lymph nodes in case of malignant pleural effusion.

Pleural ultrasound

  • This technique is often used in cases where pleural effusion is suspected but clinically and Xquang is not detected. Pleural ultrasound can detect pleural effusion when there are only a few dozen ml of water in this cavity. The translation here is a thin layer of water between the city leaves and the organ leaves of the pleura.
  • Malignant pleural effusion: Pleural ultrasound for accurate detection of pleural effusion, and abdominal ultrasound helps detect tumors in the abdomen and metabol nodes.

Pleural lumbar puncture

Pleural effusion

Picture of pleural effusion

Pleural effusion is the gold standard in the diagnosis of pleural effusion, pleural effusion combined with diagnosis and symptom reduction. Determine the cause of the disease by the nature of pleural fluid:

  • Color: The fluid can be lemon yellow, internal fluid, opaque yellow, pus, brown, red blood, opaque white like milk….
  • Epidemic testing for the causes of the disease: Analysis of the components of pleural effusion determines permeable or secretion, micro-tests to determine the causes of microorganisms, tests for malignant cells in case of malignant pleural effusion …

Combining a variety of diagnostic methods in the diagnosis of pleural effusion helps the treating doctor to give the cause of pleural effusion correctly, especially early detection of malignant pleural effusion, thereby providing the correct treatment regimen.

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SEE MORE:

  • Diagnostic test for pleural effusion
  • Complications and consequences of pleural effusion
  • What is malignant pleural effusion?

About: John Smith

b1ffdb54307529964874ff53a5c5de33?s=90&r=gI am the author of Share99.net. I had been working in Vinmec International General Hospital for over 10 years. I dedicate my passion on every post in this site.

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