Hi.
I'm Missy Edmunds, a patient advocate here at The Mesothelioma Center.
Welcome to this week's "What Does That Really Mean?"
Today I'll be describing the term pleural effusion.
A pleural effusion is a build-up of fluid in the lining of the lungs.
It's also referred to as water on the lungs.
Most patients that have been diagnosed with a pleural effusion describe it as extreme
pressure in their chest.
Pleural effusions can be diagnosed by an x-ray and show up as a whiteness in area
The fluid can be drained from the lungs but it will be very important to determine what
caused the fluid to build up because this could be a symptom of something greater, like
mesothelioma or lung cancer.
Thanks for watching and stay tuned for next week's episode.