Pleural diseases are frequently managed in primary care, but specialist knowledge is required to understand the full variety of presentations and available treatments in this rapidly developing field. ABC of Pleural Diseases is a brand new addition to the ABC Series which takes a unique approach to these conditions by dealing with them as a related group as well as in their individual manifestations. The book provides a unique and comprehensive overview of pleural disease, beginning with the anatomy and physiology of the pleura. It then covers a wide range of specific conditions in greater detail, including pneumothorax, pleural effusions, pleural infections, as well as chapters on radiology and pathology. Full coverage is given of mesothelioma, the most common pleural cancer. Written by a team of specialists, this reference guide to pleural diseases is a practical guide for General Practitioners, Junior Doctors, Specialist Nurses, Radiologists and all Healthcare Professionals working within chest medicine.

Pleural diseases are frequently managed in primary care, but specialist knowledge is required to understand the full variety of presentations and available treatments in this rapidly developing field. ABC of Pleural Diseases is a brand new addition to the ABC Series which takes a unique approach to these conditions by dealing with them as a related group as well as in their individual manifestations.The book provides a unique and comprehensive overview of pleural disease, beginning with the anatomy and physiology of the pleura. It then covers a wide range of specific conditions in greater detail, including pneumothorax, pleural effusions, pleural infections, as well as chapters on radiology and pathology. Full coverage is given of mesothelioma, the most common pleural cancer.Written by a team of specialists, this reference guide to pleural diseases is a practical guide for General Practitioners, Junior Doctors, Specialist Nurses, Radiologists and all Healthcare Professionals working within chest medicine.

Contributors vii1 Anatomy and Physiology of the Pleura 1John P. Corcoran and Najib M. Rahman2 Radiology of Pleural Disease 5Rob J. Hallifax, John P. Corcoran and Najib M. Rahman3 Pneumothorax 9John Harvey, Andrew McDuff and Ian Hunt4 Investigation of Pleural Effusions 13Clare E. Hooper5 Pleural Pathology 21Brendan Tinwell and Ian Hunt6 Unusual Causes of Pleural Disease 29David Feller?]Kopman7 Pleural Infection 33Ian Hunt and Najib M. Rahman8 Management of Malignant Pleural Effusions 39Anna C. Bibby, Nick A. Maskell and Rahul Bhatnagar9 Malignant Mesothelioma 47Carol Tan, Fergus V. Gleeson and Y.C. Gary Lee10 Pleural Interventions Section A: Pleural Aspiration 53Ambika Talwar, Ahmed Yousuf and Najib M. RahmanSection B: Chest Drain Insertion 56Ahmed Yousuf and Najib M. RahmanSection C: Insertion of an Indwelling Pleural Catheter 60Anna C. Bibby and Nick A. Maskell11 Medical ThoracoscopySection A: Rigid Thoracoscopy 63Matthew Evison, Ambika Talwar, Ahmed Yousuf and Mohammed MunavvarSection B: Semi?]Rigid Thoracoscopy 69Matthew Evison and Mohammed Munavvar12 Surgical Management of Pleural Disease 73Stephanie Fraser and Ian HuntIndex 77