OBJECTIVE To detect the tumor marker carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in pleural lavage fluid taken during surgery from patients with pulmonary carcinoma without associated pleural effusion and assess its possible prognostic implications. PATIENTS AND METHODS A prospective, observational study was undertaken to include consecutive patients who underwent surgical treatment for lung carcinoma in ...

Ultrasonography has achieved acceptance as a routine clinical tool for clinicians managing pleural disease. This article provides an overview of the field of pleural ultrasonography with an emphasis on clinical applicability and procedure guidance.

During a 10-year period (1970-79) all patients in Uppsala County found to have pleural changes related to asbestos exposure were followed. The lesions could be divided into four types: parietal pleural plaques, exudative pleurisy, thickening of the visceral pleura, and progressive pleural fibrosis. There were 891 cases. The most common type was parietal plaques, which was seen in 827 patients, ...

The pleural membrane consisting of pleural mesothelial cells and its underlying connective tissue layers play a critical role in immunological responses in both local and systemic diseases. The pleura, because of its intimate proximity to the lung, is positioned to respond to inflammatory changes in the lung parenchyma. Importantly, several systemic diseases have a predilection for expression o...

Background and Objective: COVID-19 was first seen in Wuhan-China in December 2019, and became a widely- spreadepidemic and caused a terrifying life-threatening problem in most societies of the world. In Iran, a declaration was made on  January 20, 2020, and all health systems were alerted of the disease threats. Materials and Methods: We collected all chest CT scans of 200 cases diagnosed as C...

pleural disease is a common problem in patients with chronic renal insufficiency. In 1836, Bright reported that only 29% of patients with albuminous urine had healthy pleura at autopsy.1 There are several reasons why pleural disease may be common in patients with renal failure. These include congestive heart failure, an increased risk of infection, the presence of diseases associated with renal...

Five patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) were studied to determine whether CYFRA 21-1 is useful for diagnosis of this disease. In pleural effusions, the median concentration of CYFRA 21-1 from 4 patients with MPM was significantly higher than for 34 patients with benign diseases. The sensitivity of serum CYFRA 21-1 for diagnosis of MPM was 40% and its concentration changed in pro...

STUDY OBJECTIVES No established curative treatment is available for pleural thymoma metastases and malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). Recently, peritoneal malignancies have been treated by cytoreductive surgery and intraoperative hyperthermic intracavitary perfusion chemotherapy (HIPEC). We investigated the feasibility and safety of this multimodality treatment in the thoracic cavity. DESI...

To cite: Abeyratne R, Wills P, Dubrey SW. BMJ Case Rep Published online: [please include Day Month Year] doi:10.1136/bcr-2013008928 A 62-year-old man presented with increasing shortness of breath. The chest x-ray demonstrated multiple opacities (figure 1). On questioning, he had worked at a local asbestos plant, the appearances being consistent with asbestos-related pleural plaques. One of the ...

A pleural effusion is an excessive accumulation of fluid in the pleural space. It can pose a diagnostic dilemma to the treating physician because it may be related to disorders of the lung or pleura, or to a systemic disorder. Patients most commonly present with dyspnea, initially on exertion, predominantly dry cough, and pleuritic chest pain. To treat pleural effusion appropriately, it is impo...