The Significance of
Pleural Effusion As A Symptom
Pleural effusion is one of the major symptoms of mesothelioma. Excess fluid accumulates in the pleural cavity, which is an already fluid-filled space around the lungs. Larger amounts of fluid than normal impair breathing and exert pressure on the lungs. The excessive collection of pleural fluid can take two forms, transudative, or exudative. The layers of the pleura are covered in mesothelial cells which produce the normal, tiny amounts of pleural fluid as lubricant. Three quarters or more mesotheliomas develop in the visceral pleura when asbestos fibers become irritants, causing malignant cell growth. The irritation and burgeoning of abnormal cells causes this condition. The thickening of the pleura due to malformed cells, and the pleural effusion, are prime symptoms of cancer. Pleural mesothelioma causes chest pain, because of the additional fluid that creates extra pressure on the lungs and chest wall. The pressure causes difficulty in breathing and causes pain when the patient breathes in. A sample of the pleural fluid extracted and tested in a lab can confirm the presence or absence of malignant pleural effusion, and cancerous cells. An x-ray is also a useful tool in determining if a pleural effusion is taking place. Strangely, data shows that the right lung is affected in 60% of the patients, while an effect on both lungs occurs in only 5% of the people affected by this condition. As more and more fluid accumulates in the chest cavity, the patient becomes shorter and shorter of breath, and pain, mild or stabbing, is also likely, as well as bouts of dry coughing. Pleural effusion is usually diagnosed through a simple chest x-ray. CT scans or ultrasound imaging are also used, along with a special x-ray technique, lateral decubitus film, to detect smaller effusions or to arrive at estimates of the amount of fluid. This condition can be a symptom of many diseases, both malignant and benign. Diagnostic thoracentesis is another test associated with such effusions. Cells from the pleural cavity are extracted and tested, especially when there is a possibility of mesothelioma. A needle biopsy and an open biopsy are the most dependable tests to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma. All kinds of lung cancer do not necessarily have malignant pleural effusion as a symptom. However, almost every single case of pleural mesothelioma will present this condition as a symptom. If the disease is caught however, and treatment begun, at an early stage, this symptom may not have time to develop. Strangely enough, when an effusion is noticed, the mesothelioma possibility is often ignored, since many other diseases can cause the symptom. However, any background in or around asbestos, combined with a pleural effusion should be investigated thoroughly until every possible option is exhausted, and a confirmed diagnosis can be made.
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