Abstract
Imaging is now a key component in the diagnosis and management of patients with pleural disease. The CXR remains the most important first imaging investigation, with ultrasound (US) now commonly performed by chest physicians as the next most frequent investigation, used to confirm the presence of a pleural effusion and to guide aspiration, drain insertion, and biopsy. Computed tomography (CT) is used to complement ultrasound and, in some cases, aid diagnosis, guide biopsy, and stage patients with pleural malignancy. More recently, positron emission tomography with computed tomography (PET-CT) has been shown to have a role in distinguishing benign from malignant disease and provide additional staging and prognostic information in patients with mesothelioma.
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Gleeson, F. (2013). Pleural Imaging. In: Ernst, A., Herth, F. (eds) Principles and Practice of Interventional Pulmonology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-4292-9_54
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-4292-9_54
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