• A spiral chest CT scan should be obtained for most patients with pleural effusion when the condition's etiology cannot be readily determined or when complicated pleural effusion (eg, empyema, malignancy) is suspected. (medscape.com)
  • The etiologic mechanisms involved in the formation of most pleural effusions include pleural space infection (empyema), abnormal capillary permeability (exudates), increased hydrostatic or decreased oncotic pressure in the setting of normal capillaries (transudates), abnormal lymphatic clearance (exudates), and blood in the pleural space (hemothorax). (medscape.com)