Pleuraerkrankungen: Wann daran denken, was tun?

Pleural diseases include a spectrum of disorders broadly categorized into pneumothorax and pleural effusion. They often cause chest pain, breathlessness as well as reduced state of health and well-being. The diagnostic workup includes x-ray and/or CT of the chest, thorax ultrasound exam and the analysis of pleura effusion fluids. Pleura effusions will be further analyzed microbiologically, cytologically and biochemically. Still unclear cases must be further histologically evaluated e.g. by trans-cutaneous or surgical biopsies. The primary treatment consists of the therapy of the underlying disease, with - depend…