title: Viral diseases affecting the pleura.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Viruses affect the human body in multiple ways producing various disease states. The infections of the pulmonary parenchyma have been well described. However, there has been no current review of the literature pertaining to the pleura.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To review the available literature pertaining to diseases of the pleura that are caused by viral infections.
  
  
  METHODS
  A Medline search was performed and available research and review articles relating to viral infections that resulted in pleural effusions, pleural masses, pleural thickening, and pleural nodularity were reviewed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are numerous viruses that cause diseases of the pleura. Pleural effusions and lesions within the pleura are the most common presentation of the disease state. Polymerase chain reaction has the potential to further diagnose viral infections and expand our knowledge base in this field.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Allergy and Sleep Medicine, 96 Jonathan Lucas Street, Suite 812 - CSB, MSC 630, Charleston, SC 29425, United States. Electronic address: nestorj@musc.edu.
authors.forename: Jennings
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nestor
authors.forename: Terrill
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Huggins
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kummerfeldt
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: DiVietro
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Walters
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sahn
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods; D010994:Pleura / Q000473:pathology*; D010998:Pleurisy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*
keywords: Effusion; Malignancy; PAL; PEL; Pleura; Virus