Pleural Effusion

2002655 citationsJournal Article

Authors

Richard W. Light · Vanderbilt University

Abstract

A 70-year-old man with an 80-pack-year history of smoking and a history of congestive heart failure presents with increasing shortness of breath. He also has aching chest pain on the right side that worsens with deep inspiration. He is afebrile. The chest radiograph reveals asymmetrical bilateral pleural effusions, with more fluid on the right. How should this patient be evaluated?

Topics & Keywords

Pleural and Pulmonary Diseases Pneumothorax, Barotrauma, Emphysema Trauma Management and Diagnosis

UN Sustainable Development Goals

Good health and well-being

Publication Details

Published in: New England Journal of Medicine

Volume 346, Issue 25, pp. 1971-1977

DOI: 10.1056/nejmcp010731

Field-Weighted Citation Impact: 10.72