Question 7 - Single Best Answer
Which of the following are causes of a pleural effusion?
E) All of the above
CORRECT!
There are many causes of pleural effusions including congestive heart failure, trauma, infectious etiologies (parapneumonic, tuberculosis, viral pleuritis, fungal), tumors (metastases, lymphoma, mesotheliomas), connective tissue diseases, trauma, and subdiaphragmatic process (abdominal ascites, abdominal surgery, subphrenic abcess). It is important to look for clues as to the cause of the pleural effusion. Using the clinical history, diagnostic procedures (ie. thoracentesis) and imaging studies can help find the etiology of the pleural effusion.