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Can Pneumonia Lead To Pleural Effusion?
Question: My son 33 and quite lean had a incident in October where he could not lay down without intense pain in the chest/heart lung area. I’m not sure if he was having difficulty breathing. Two months later he had a chest X-ray and he had fluid in the lung. They then sent him for a mri and a ultra sound and took 2-3 vial of blood. The vials had a blue top. He has not been informed of any findings. Just 2 weeks ago he again had anoth ultra sound and chest X-ray
What are they looking for?
How serious is a pulmonary embolism?
What are the percentages of this the event happening again
What are they looking for?
How serious is a pulmonary embolism?
What are the percentages of this the event happening again
Brief Answer:
They are looking for improvement in pleural effusion.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
By your history and description, he is having pleural effusion.
A most common cause of the pleural effusion is lung infections like pneumonia or tuberculosis.
Pulmonary embolism (PE) can also cause pleural effusion.
In the follow-up chest X-ray and ultrasound, they are checking about the improvement in pleural effusion.
He must have received treatment and so they are checking if drugs are working or not.
Can you please tell me if he had received any treatment after the diagnosis or not and if yes then which drugs he was taking?
If it is lung infection related Pleural effusion then the possibility of recurrence is rare.
But if it is PE related pleural effusion then it may recur in 5-10% patients.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Take care
Regards,
Dr Kaushal Bhavsar, Pulmonologist
They are looking for improvement in pleural effusion.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
By your history and description, he is having pleural effusion.
A most common cause of the pleural effusion is lung infections like pneumonia or tuberculosis.
Pulmonary embolism (PE) can also cause pleural effusion.
In the follow-up chest X-ray and ultrasound, they are checking about the improvement in pleural effusion.
He must have received treatment and so they are checking if drugs are working or not.
Can you please tell me if he had received any treatment after the diagnosis or not and if yes then which drugs he was taking?
If it is lung infection related Pleural effusion then the possibility of recurrence is rare.
But if it is PE related pleural effusion then it may recur in 5-10% patients.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Take care
Regards,
Dr Kaushal Bhavsar, Pulmonologist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
Dr Bhavsar,
My Son has not received any medication as of yet. They did check for TB. on 10-17-17
Sometime in Feb. The Radilogist said he had bilateral spical pleural-paraenchynal sxcarring. a 6mm ground glass nodule with a 2mm solid center and an amorphour region of consolidation with a subtle central lucendy in the left costophrenic recess. He recommended a contrasted CT with a PE protocol. But not sure if this would be helpful since it has been a few months.
Sometime in Feb. Pulminologist said - He still has abnormality in lung serveral mnths later. could have been pulminary infection, viral infection, or to a connective tissue disease such as Lupus. No findings to review to support this diagnosis.
PLAN:
Repeat the X-ray or CT scan - Done on 3-20 No results given.
Check D-Dimer Done on 2-22. No results given.
Ultrasound on legs - done on 3-22 No results given.
Perform TEE (not done)
Should this entire review be taking this long? Are there any other tests you think we should ask for? What are they looking for in the comment "connective tissue disease, such as Lupus"? Any tests for that. Marfin?
Thank you
Kxxxx
My Son has not received any medication as of yet. They did check for TB. on 10-17-17
Sometime in Feb. The Radilogist said he had bilateral spical pleural-paraenchynal sxcarring. a 6mm ground glass nodule with a 2mm solid center and an amorphour region of consolidation with a subtle central lucendy in the left costophrenic recess. He recommended a contrasted CT with a PE protocol. But not sure if this would be helpful since it has been a few months.
Sometime in Feb. Pulminologist said - He still has abnormality in lung serveral mnths later. could have been pulminary infection, viral infection, or to a connective tissue disease such as Lupus. No findings to review to support this diagnosis.
PLAN:
Repeat the X-ray or CT scan - Done on 3-20 No results given.
Check D-Dimer Done on 2-22. No results given.
Ultrasound on legs - done on 3-22 No results given.
Perform TEE (not done)
Should this entire review be taking this long? Are there any other tests you think we should ask for? What are they looking for in the comment "connective tissue disease, such as Lupus"? Any tests for that. Marfin?
Thank you
Kxxxx
Brief Answer:
He can undergo ANA profile for CTD.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Well, they have looked for everything.
For connective tissue disease (CTD), ANA (anti-nuclear antibody) profile should be done. So ask for ANA profile.
If this is negative then the possibility of CTD is not there.
And honestly speaking CTD is extremely unlikely in males.
Hope I have answered your query.
Take care
Regards,
Dr Kaushal Bhavsar, Pulmonologist
He can undergo ANA profile for CTD.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Well, they have looked for everything.
For connective tissue disease (CTD), ANA (anti-nuclear antibody) profile should be done. So ask for ANA profile.
If this is negative then the possibility of CTD is not there.
And honestly speaking CTD is extremely unlikely in males.
Hope I have answered your query.
Take care
Regards,
Dr Kaushal Bhavsar, Pulmonologist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
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