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Pleuritis

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  • First Online:
Pathology of the Pleura and Mediastinum

Part of the book series: Encyclopedia of Pathology ((EP))

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Synonyms

Pleurisy; Pleurodynia

Definition

Pleuritis is a reactive condition or inflammation of the pleura. The pleura consists of two layers of mesothelium: the visceral layer, which covers the lung parenchyma, and the parietal layer, which lines the thoracic cavity. A minimal amount of fluid is present in the pleural space between these two layers to create a smooth, lubricated surface during breathing. Pleuritis may result in a roughening or irritation of the pleural layers, causing friction during breathing. As the parietal pleura has a rich supply of nerves, this can result in pain, or pleurodynia, usually during inspiration. There are many different causes of pleuritis, depending on the specific form in which it presents, including infection, conditions affecting the thoracic cavity, pulmonary embolism, autoimmune disorders, asbestos-related disease, uremia, medications, and malignancies affecting the lung or pleura.

Granulomatous pleuritis may present in cases of tuberculosis,...

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References and Further Reading

  • Cagle, P. T. (2007). Color atlas and text of pulmonary pathology (2nd ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins.

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  • Husain, A. N. (2012). Thoracic pathology. Philadelphia: Elsevier/Saunders.

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  • Lee-Chiong, T., Gebhart, G. F., & Matthay, R. A. (2010). Chest pain. In R. J. Mason, V. C. Broaddus, T. R. Martin, et al. (Eds.), Murray and Nadel’s textbook of respiratory medicine (5th ed.). Philadelphia: Saunders/Elsevier. Chapter 30.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA

    Dr. Melissa Van Dellen M.D.

Authors
  1. Dr. Melissa Van Dellen M.D.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Melissa Van Dellen M.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, The University of Mississippi Medical School, The University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA

    Timothy Craig Allen

  2. Department of Pathology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA

    Saul Suster

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© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature

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Van Dellen, M. (2018). Pleuritis. In: Allen, T.C., Suster, S. (eds) Pathology of the Pleura and Mediastinum. Encyclopedia of Pathology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-66796-6_379

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-66796-6_379

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-66795-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-66796-6

  • eBook Packages: MedicineReference Module Medicine

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