Pleural Effusions

Audience: Medical Students and Residents
Learning Objectives:
Identify the common features of pleural effusion on radiographs and CT
Summary:
Pleural effusion is space occupying
Best detected with upright 2 view chest radiographs
Blunting of the costophrenic angles is the most salient finding

[@DhiSojourner]

Thank you. This was useful

[@jamalabdinasir3697]

thanks for your help 👍

[@tottart56]

Hello, Does a malignant pleural effusion look different on a chest x-ray (vs. a benign pleural effusion) . Why would a large pleural effusion be one-sided ? (right lung) ? Thank you in advance.

[@1miracle1s]

I wish if there was an arrow , but nice!

[@shoppingme4743]

Hi Doc, I'm from Indonesia. May I ask your help please? I have loculated fluid collection in segmen 10 lung based on CT Scan result, i met general doctor, instead of Lung Doctor. I have covid 19 now and its hard to see Specialist doctor due of the protocol. I'm so sad and confused due I've read my CT scan result that there is a loculated fluid collection in segmen 10 of my lung, is it because of Covid 19 or something else? I don't have GGO. My lung clear from GGO. But there is a loculated fluid in segmen 10 and i wonder what is this? Is it because of Covid? And what should i do? Whether this fluid needs surgery? My saturation Oxygen is 98 percentage. But I have heavy cough now with sputum now, i'm using levofloxacin after azithromycin didnt work to reduce my sputum cough. I know i should meet Doctor but at least if you can help to explain it would means a lot to me. Since I can't easy to meet Specialist doctor due i still have Covid. Thank you in advance