Pleural Effusion: Investigation

Key points

• Pleural effusion: investigation and management The British Thoracic Society (BTS) produced guidelines in 2010 covering the investigation of patients with a pleural effusion. Imaging
• posterioranterior (PA) chest x-rays should be performed in all patients patients
• ultrasound is recommended: it increases the likelihood of successful pleural aspiration and is sensitive for detecting pleural fluid septations
• contrast CT is now increasingly performed to investigate the underlying cause, particularly for exudative effusions Pleural aspiration
• as above, ultrasound is recommended to reduce the complication rate