Evaluation of pleuritis

Last reviewed: 3 Apr 2025
Last updated: 11 Jul 2024

Summary

Differentials

Common

  • Pneumothorax
  • Bacterial pneumonia
  • Pulmonary embolism
  • Nonmesothelioma malignancy
  • Acute coronary syndrome
  • Viral pleuritis
Full details

Uncommon

  • Asbestos-related benign pleural disease
  • Mesothelioma
  • Pulmonary/extrapulmonary tuberculosis (TB)
  • Connective tissue disorders
  • Drug reactions
  • Aortic dissection
  • Postcardiac injury syndrome (PCIS)
  • Uremia
  • Cirrhosis
  • Acute pancreatitis
  • Chronic pancreatitis
Full details

Contributors

Authors

Steve Walker, MBChB, PhD

Pleural Research Fellow

Southmead Hospital

Bristol

UK

Disclosures

SW declares that he has no competing interests.

Nicholas Maskell, FRCP, DM

Consultant Senior Lecturer

Department of Clinical Sciences

Southmead Hospital

University of Bristol

Bristol

UK

Disclosures

NM has received an honorarium from BD for sitting on their advisory board. Their products have no relation to the contents of this topic.

Acknowledgements

Dr Steve Walker and Dr Nicholas Maskell would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Kathryn Bateman, Dr Praveen Mannam, and Dr Terence K. Trow, previous contributors to this topic. The contributors would also like to thank Dr Ami N. Rubinowitz, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Radiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, for providing the images.

Disclosures

KB and PM declare that they have no competing interests. TKT is on the Advisory Board for Encysive, Actelion, United Therapeutics, and Gilead Pharmaceuticals and the Speaker's Bureau for Encysive, Actelion, and United Therapeutics.

Peer reviewers

Philip W. Ind, BA (Cantab), MB BChir, MA (Cantab), FRCP

Consultant Physician

Honorary Senior Lecturer

Imperial College Healthcare Trust

Hammersmith Hospital

London

UK

Disclosures

PWI declares that he has no competing interests.

Sangeeta Bhorade, MD

Associate Professor of Medicine and Medical Director

Lung Transplant Program

University of Chicago Hospitals

Chicago

IL

Disclosures

SB declares that she has no competing interests.

Sanjay Sethi, MD

Professor of Medicine

Division Chief

Pulmonary/Critical Care/Sleep Medicine

University at Buffalo

State University of New York

Section Chief

Pulmonary/Critical Care/Sleep Medicine

VA Western New York Healthcare System

Buffalo

NY

Disclosures

SS declares that he has no competing interests.

References

Our in-house evidence and editorial teams collaborate with international expert contributors and peer reviewers to ensure that we provide access to the most clinically relevant information possible.

Key articles

Lee RW, Hodgson LE, Jackson MB, et al. Problem based review: pleuritic chest pain. Acute Med. 2012;11(3):172-82. Abstract

Roberts ME, Rahman NM, Maskell NA, et al. British Thoracic Society guideline for pleural disease. Thorax. 2023 Jul;78(suppl 3):s1-42.Full text

Metlay JP, Waterer GW, Long AC, et al. Diagnosis and treatment of adults with community-acquired pneumonia. an official clinical practice guideline of the American Thoracic Society and Infectious Diseases Society of America. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2019 Oct 1;200(7):e45-67.Full text  Abstract

Reference articles

A full list of sources referenced in this topic is available to users with access to all of BMJ Best Practice.
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