1.
Thorac Surg Clin
; 23(1): 1-10, v, 2013 Feb.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-23206712
ABSTRACT
Pleural effusions are most often secondary to an underlying condition and may be the first sign of the underlying pathologic condition. The balance between the hydrostatic and oncotic forces dictates pleural fluid homeostasis. The parietal pleura has a more significant role in pleural fluid homeostasis. Its vessels are closer to the pleural space compared with its visceral counterpart; it contains lymphatic stomata, absent on visceral pleura, which are responsible for a bulk clearance of fluid. The diagnosis and successful treatment of pleural effusions requires a mixture of imaging techniques and pleural fluid analysis.