title: Pathology of the pleura: what the pulmonologists need to know.
abstract: Primary and metastatic pleural neoplasms, and non-neoplastic pleural diseases, can have similar clinical, radiographic and gross features. However, treatments and prognoses of these diverse pleural conditions vary greatly. Accurate diagnosis of pleural disease is therefore extremely important, and histological interpretation of pleural biopsies is vital to rendering an accurate diagnosis. Smaller biopsies contribute to the difficulties in accurately characterizing pleural lesions, and immunostains are frequently employed in their assessment. Diffuse malignant mesothelioma, the most common primary pulmonary neoplasm, is rare; however, other less common primary pleural neoplasms, including solitary fibrous tumour, the most common benign primary pleural neoplasm, occur. These neoplasms are discussed. Also, non-neoplastic pleural diseases, including granulomatous pleuritis, eosinophilic pleuritis and fibrous and fibrinous pleuritis, among other diseases, are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York, USA. pcagle@tmhs.org
authors.forename: Philip T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Cagle
authors.forename: Timothy Craig
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Allen
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D010994:Pleura / Q000473:pathology*; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary; D010998:Pleurisy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D015272:Pulmonary Medicine