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Diseases » Pleural effusion » Glossary

Glossary for Pleural effusion

Abdominal abscess: An abscess that occurs anywhere in the abdomen.
Acanthosis nigricans: It is a brown to black, poorly defined, velvety hyperpigmentation of the skin usually present in the posterior and lateral folds of the neck, the axilla, groin, umbilicus and other areas.
Actinomycosis: An infection that results from the bacteria sp. Actinomyces.
Acute Pancreatitis: Sudden severe inflammation of the pancreas causing digestive complaints.
Alveolar Hydatid Disease: Rare multi-organ tapeworm infection caught from animals.
Anthrax: A serious infectious bacterial disease that can be fatal.
Asbestosis: Lung condition from asbestos exposure
Ascites: Fluid accumulation in abdominal cavity
Aspergillosis: Infection with a fungus called Aspergillus.
Atelectasis: Collapse of lung tissue affecting part or all of one lung. Atelectasis may be an acute or chronic condition. In acute atelectasis, the lung has recently collapsed and is primarily notable only for airlessness. In chronic atelectasis, the affected area is often characterized by a complex mixture of airlessness, infection, widening of the bronchi, destruction and scarring.
Atypical mycobacterial infection:
Blastomycosis: A fungal infection caused by Blastomyces dermatitidis and resulting in lung, skin, bone and genitourinary involvement.
Breast Cancer: Cancer of the breast.
Breathing difficulties: Various types of breathing difficulty (dyspnea).
Bromocriptine - Teratogenic Agent: There is strong evidence to indicate that exposure to Bromocriptine during pregnancy may have a teratogenic effect on the fetus. A teratogen is a substance that can cause birth defects. The likelihood and severity of defects may be affected by the level of exposure and the stage of pregnancy that the exposure occurred at.
Bronchogenic carcinoma: When cells of the lung start growing rapidly in an uncontrolled manner, the condition is called lung cancer .
COPD: Severe obstruction of bronchial air flow typically from bronchitis and/or emphysema.
Chest pain: Pain in the chest area.
Chest symptoms: Symptoms affecting the chest region.
Chronic Bronchitis: Chronic bronchitis is a chronic inflammation of the bronchi (medium-size airways) in the lungs.
Chronic Kidney Disease: Long-term and generally irreversible disease of the kidneys due to infection, obstruction, congenital diseases or generalised diseases causing failure of the kidneys' normal functions.
Churg-Strauss Syndrome: A condition characterized by blood vessel inflammation that occurs throughout the body.
Cirrhosis of liver: Chronic liver disease wherein normal liver parenchyma is replaced by fibrous tissue.
Cirrhosis of the liver: Scarring of the liver from alcohol or other causes.
Coccidioidomycosis: An infectious disease caused by a fungus called Coccidioides immitis which is found in the soil. Transmission usually occurs through inhalation but can rarely occur through the skin. Very rarely, infection can spread throughout the body to involve the skin, bones, joints, lungs and central nervous system which can be fatal if untreated.
Congestive cardiac failure: A condition characterized by breathlessness and abnormal sodium and water retention.
Constrictive pericarditis: Inflammation, swelling and thickening of the pericardium (fibrous sac surrounding the heart) which causes it to tighten around the heart and affect its function. The condition may be misdiagnosed as a heart attack and vice versa.
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: A common form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma characterized by abnormal proliferation of B-lymphocytes. It is a cancer of the B-lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) which, if untreated, can spread to other parts of the body such as the bones and the liver. It differs from follicular lymphoma in that it is a high-grade lymphoma that usually develops rapidly. Follicular lymphoma often transforms into diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
Dressler syndrome: A group of symptoms that can occur days, weeks or months after a heart attack or heart surgery. The symptoms may be due to such things as autoimmune processes, virus or bleeding around the heart which can result in inflammation of the membrane surrounding the heart.
Emphysema: Emphysema is a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is defined as an abnormal, permanent enlargement of the air spaces distal to the terminal bronchioles accompanied by destruction of their walls and without obvious fibrosis.
Empyema:
Entamoeba histolytica: Parasitic digestive infection.
Familial Mediterranean fever: A rare inherited condition characterized by recurrent fever and inflammation. The inflammation usually involves the stomach, lungs or joints.
Fetal indomethacin syndrome: Fetal exposure to indomethacin which is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. The drug can pass through the placenta from the mother to the baby and cause various problems depending on what stage of development the fetus is at.
Flail Chest: The separation of a portion of the rib cage from the rest of the chest wall - usually due to trauma. The severity of the condition varies depending on the extent of the damage.
Francisella tularenis infection: Francisella tularenis is a type of bacteria that can cause infection involving the skin, respiratory and gastrointestinal systems. The nature and severity of symptoms varies depending on the location of the infection. The bacteria primarily causes localized tissue necrosis. The pathogen is considered a possible biological weapon.
Gorham's syndrome: A very rare bone disorder involving bone loss which can occur in one or more bones.
Heart failure: Slow failure of the heart (cardiac insufficiency).
Hemochromatosis: Excess of iron leading to problems with joints, liver, heart and pancreas.
Hemothorax: Blood in the pleural cavity (near lungs)
Herbal Agent adverse reaction - Clove: Clove can be used as a herbal agent that can be used topically for tooth pain or as a local anesthetic in dentistry. The herbal agent can cause an adverse reaction or even anaphylaxis in some people.
Herbal Agent adverse reaction - Saw Palmetto: Saw palmetto can be used to assist with benign prostatic hyperplasia. The herbal agent can cause an adverse reaction in some people.
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis: A group of chronic inflammatory joint disorders that affects children. The condition generally involves periods of time where the condition is active followed by periods of abatement of symptoms. In some cases, the condition can be systemic and can cause symptoms such as fever and rash with organ involvement. There are three main types of juvenile idiopathic arthritis - oligoarticular, polyarticular and systemic (Still's disease).
Kaposi's Sarcoma: Kaposi's sarcoma is a cancerous tumor of the connective tissue, and is often associated with AIDS.
Kidney disease: Reduced kidney function from various causes.
Kwashiorkor: A malnutrition state that is produced by severe protein deficiency
Liver failure: Acute liver failure (ALF) is an uncommon condition in which the rapid deterioration of liver function results in coagulopathy and alteration in the mental status of a previously healthy individual.
Lung abscess: Pus (abscess) in the lung
Lung cancer: Lung cancer is a disease of uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. This growth may lead to metastasis, which is the invasion of adjacent tissue and infiltration beyond the lungs. Most lung tumors are malignant.
Lung conditions: Various conditions affecting the lungs or related airways.
Lung inflammation: Inflammation that occurs in the lung
Lupus: Autoimmune disease with numerous effects on various organs and linings.
Lymphangioleiomyomatosis: A very rare progressive disease where an unusual type of muscle cell (smooth muscle) infiltrates the lungs which eventually obstructs the flow of air through the lungs. The cause is unknown and generally occurs in women of child bearing age.
Lymphoma: Cancer involving lymph nodes and the immune system.
Mesothelioma: Type of lung cancer associated with asbestos.
Mole: Darkened growths on the skin; everyone has a few.
Myxedema: Skin and tissue disorder usually due to hypothyroidism
Nephrotic syndrome: Various kidney glomeruli conditions
Neurofibromatosis: Nerve disorders often leading to tumors on nerves.
OHSS: Excessive stimulation of the ovaries that usually occurs as a complication of in vitro fertilization but may also occur spontaneously. The degree of excessive ovarian stimulation may vary from mild to severe.
Pancreas conditions: Any condition that affects the pancreas
Paragonimiases - lung infection: Infection by a parasitic worm, Paragonimus westermani, which are a type of lung fluke which invade the lungs and other organs where they cause problems. Infection occurs through eating freshwater crabs and crayfish which have not been cooked sufficiently.
Paragonimiasis: Infection by a parasitic worm, Paragonimus westermani, which are a type of lung fluke which invade the lungs, and sometimes other organs, where they cause problems. Occasionally the parasites infect the brain which can occasionally result in death. Infection occurs through eating freshwater crabs and crayfish which have not been cooked sufficiently.
Pericardial effusion: Occurs when there is an abnormal collection of fluid within the pericardial sac
Pleural effusion: Fluid in the pleural spaces.
Pleurisy: Inflammation of the pleural membrane
Pneumoconiosis: A lung disease caused by breathing in coal dust. It often occurs in people employed in the coal industry. Generally symptoms stop once the exposure ceases.
Pneumonia: Infection of the lung by bacteria, viruses or fungus.
Pneumothorax: Air in the pleural spaces around the lungs.
Pulmonary edema: Severe condition of excess fluid in the lungs.
Pulmonary embolism: Blocked lung blood vessel often from a blood clot.
Pulmonary embolus: Blood clot lodges in the arteries supplying the lungs, causing decreased blood flow and air exchange
Pulmonary venous hypertension: Pulmonary venous hypertension is high blood pressure results when the heart is unable to efficiently carry blood away from the lungs. The blood tends to collect in the lung tissue. It is usually the result of conditions such as left-sided heart disease, constrictive pericarditis and other heart problems.
Respiratory conditions: Any condition that affects the respiratory system
Respiratory failure: Failure of the respiratory system
Restrictive cardiomyopathy: A condition which is characterized by restriction to the function of the walls of the heart
Rheumatic fever: An inflammatory disorder that can occur as a complication of untreated streptococcal bacterial infection such as strep throat or scarlet fever. The condition may affect the brain, skin, heart and joints.
Rheumatoid arthritis: Autoimmune form of arthritis usually in teens or young adults.
Sarcoidosis: Rare autoimmune disease usually affecting the lungs.
Scrub typhus: Type of typhus usually caught from ticks
Sjogren's Syndrome: Autoimmune disease damaging the eye tear ducts and other glands.
Subphrenic abscess: A pus-filled cavity in the subphrenic region which is the area below the diaphragm but above the colon and liver. The infection can occur as a complication of abdominal surgery, acute pancreatitis and trauma.
Tuberculosis: Bacterial infection causing nodules forming, most commonly in the lung.
Uhl anomaly: A rare congenital heart malformation where the myocardial layer (muscle wall of the heart) of the right ventricle is completely or partially absent.
Uremia: Excessive urea and waste products in the blood
Visceral leishmaniasis: A condition which is characterized by an infection of the viscera by leishmaniasis
Wegener's granulomatosis: A rare disease involving blood vessel inflammation which can affect the blood flow to various tissues and organs and hence cause damage. The respiratory system and the kidneys are the main systems affected.
Whipple's Disease: Rare malabsorption disease from bacterial digestive infection
Yellow nail syndrome: A rare nail condition characterized by thickened yellow nails as well as swelling of parts of the body due to lymphatic drainage problems resulting from blocked or damaged lymphatic system.