Pleural Effusion :
Pleural effusion is an abnormal situation where excess fluid than normal can collect in the pleural space, the area that lies between the lungs and the chest wall. The causes may be heart failure, pneumonia, and lung cancer and pulmonary embolism. Symptoms for this disease are normally shortness of breath, chest pain, and dry cough. The diagnosis for this condition is commonly made through a physical exam, getting an X-ray to measure the amount of fluid accumulated in the chest or taking an ultrasound. This patient can have thoracentesis done in order to drain fluid for examination and to relieve the symptomatology. When the fluid is drained, proper treatment varies based on the cause of the condition and would range from medication, flushing of fluid, to dealing with the cause of the condition itself such as in the case of infection and cancer.