Pleuritis, also known as pleurisy, is an inflammation Inflammation Inflammation is a complex set of responses to infection and injury involving leukocytes as the principal cellular mediators in the body's defense against pathogenic organisms. Inflammation is also seen as a response to tissue injury in the process of wound healing. The 5 cardinal signs of inflammation are pain, heat, redness, swelling, and loss of function. Inflammation of the visceral and parietal Parietal One of a pair of irregularly shaped quadrilateral bones situated between the frontal bone and occipital bone, which together form the sides of the cranium. Skull: Anatomy layers of the pleural membranes of the lungs Lungs Lungs are the main organs of the respiratory system. Lungs are paired viscera located in the thoracic cavity and are composed of spongy tissue. The primary function of the lungs is to oxygenate blood and eliminate CO2. Lungs: Anatomy. The condition can be primary or secondary and results in sudden, sharp, and intense chest pain Pain An unpleasant sensation induced by noxious stimuli which are detected by nerve endings of nociceptive neurons. Pain: Types and Pathways on inhalation and exhalation. Etiologies include infection, trauma, cardiac Cardiac Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return (TAPVR) ischemia Ischemia A hypoperfusion of the blood through an organ or tissue caused by a pathologic constriction or obstruction of its blood vessels, or an absence of blood circulation. Ischemic Cell Damage, and lung cancer Lung cancer Lung cancer is the malignant transformation of lung tissue and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. The majority of cases are associated with long-term smoking. The disease is generally classified histologically as either small cell lung cancer or non-small cell lung cancer. Symptoms include cough, dyspnea, weight loss, and chest discomfort. Lung Cancer. The most common primary infectious Infectious Febrile Infant cause is a viral infection, and underlying lung infections Infections Invasion of the host organism by microorganisms or their toxins or by parasites that can cause pathological conditions or diseases. Chronic Granulomatous Disease account for the majority of secondary infectious Infectious Febrile Infant causes. Management consists of pain Pain An unpleasant sensation induced by noxious stimuli which are detected by nerve endings of nociceptive neurons. Pain: Types and Pathways control and the treatment of the underlying condition.
Last updated: 24 Jan, 2022
Transudate Transudate Transudates are fluids that pass through a membrane or squeeze through tissue or into the extracellular space of tissues. Transudates are thin and watery and contain few cells or proteins. Pleural Effusion | Exudate Exudate Exudates are fluids, cells, or other cellular substances that are slowly discharged from blood vessels usually from inflamed tissues. Pleural Effusion | |
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Protein (pleural/serum) | ≤ 0.5 | > 0.5 |
LDH LDH Osteosarcoma (pleural/serum) | ≤ 0.6 | > 0.6 |
Pleural LDH LDH Osteosarcoma ≤ two-thirds upper limit Limit A value (e.g., pressure or time) that should not be exceeded and which is specified by the operator to protect the lung Invasive Mechanical Ventilation of normal serum LDH LDH Osteosarcoma | Pleural LDH LDH Osteosarcoma > two-thirds upper limit Limit A value (e.g., pressure or time) that should not be exceeded and which is specified by the operator to protect the lung Invasive Mechanical Ventilation of normal serum LDH LDH Osteosarcoma | |
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Patient undergoing thoracentesis Thoracentesis Aspiration of fluid or air from the thoracic cavity. It is coupled sometimes with the administration of drugs into the pleural cavity. Thoracic Surgery. Note that the person sits upright and leans on a table. Excess fluid from the pleural space is drained into a bag.
Image: “A person undergoing thoracentesis Thoracentesis Aspiration of fluid or air from the thoracic cavity. It is coupled sometimes with the administration of drugs into the pleural cavity. Thoracic Surgery.” by National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. License: Public DomainChest X-ray Chest X-ray X-ray visualization of the chest and organs of the thoracic cavity. It is not restricted to visualization of the lungs. Pulmonary Function Tests showing advanced bilateral pulmonary tuberculosis Tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex bacteria. The bacteria usually attack the lungs but can also damage other parts of the body. Approximately 30% of people around the world are infected with this pathogen, with the majority harboring a latent infection. Tuberculosis spreads through the air when a person with active pulmonary infection coughs or sneezes. Tuberculosis. Notice the presence of bilateral pulmonary infiltrates (white triangles) and cavitary formation (black arrows) in the right apical region.
Image: “An anteroposterior X-ray X-ray Penetrating electromagnetic radiation emitted when the inner orbital electrons of an atom are excited and release radiant energy. X-ray wavelengths range from 1 pm to 10 nm. Hard x-rays are the higher energy, shorter wavelength x-rays. Soft x-rays or grenz rays are less energetic and longer in wavelength. The short wavelength end of the x-ray spectrum overlaps the gamma rays wavelength range. The distinction between gamma rays and x-rays is based on their radiation source. Pulmonary Function Tests of a patient diagnosed with advanced bilateral pulmonary tuberculosis Tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex bacteria. The bacteria usually attack the lungs but can also damage other parts of the body. Approximately 30% of people around the world are infected with this pathogen, with the majority harboring a latent infection. Tuberculosis spreads through the air when a person with active pulmonary infection coughs or sneezes. Tuberculosis” by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Public Health Image Library (PHIL). License: Public DomainCT pulmonary angiography showing a “saddle embolus” at the bifurcation of the main pulmonary artery Pulmonary artery The short wide vessel arising from the conus arteriosus of the right ventricle and conveying unaerated blood to the lungs. Lungs: Anatomy and thrombus burden in the lobar arteries Arteries Arteries are tubular collections of cells that transport oxygenated blood and nutrients from the heart to the tissues of the body. The blood passes through the arteries in order of decreasing luminal diameter, starting in the largest artery (the aorta) and ending in the small arterioles. Arteries are classified into 3 types: large elastic arteries, medium muscular arteries, and small arteries and arterioles. Arteries: Histology on both sides. Can cause pleuritic symptomatology Symptomatology Scarlet Fever.
Image: “CT pulmonary angiography Angiography Radiography of blood vessels after injection of a contrast medium. Cardiac Surgery images confirming the presence of a saddle embolus Saddle embolus Emboli at the bifurcation of the main pulmonary artery. Pulmonary Embolism” by Aung Myat and Arif Ahsan. License: CC BY 2.0