title: Pleural effusion: a structured approach to care.
abstract: The accumulation of fluid in the pleural space is a common manifestation of a wide range of disease. This review provides a structured approach to the investigation of the patient with a pleural effusion. This should allow an accurate diagnosis to be made with the minimum number of invasive and time-consuming investigations.
authors.affiliation: Oxford Pleural Diseases Unit, Oxford Centre for Respiratory Medicine, Churchill Hospital Oxford OX3 7LJ, UK. naj_rahman@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: Najib M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.forename: Robert J O
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Davies
mesh_terms: D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000150:complications; D002916:Chylothorax / Q000150:complications; D003240:Connective Tissue Diseases / Q000150:complications; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000150:complications; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000150:complications; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D005947:Glucose