This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Clinical features

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Presentation of pleural effusion differs according to size of the effusion, the rate of fluid accumulation, comorbidities, and underlying respiratory reserve.
Symptoms:

  • may be asymptomatic
  • dyspnoea - dependent on size of effusion
  • dull chest pain
  • cough (non productive) (1)

Signs:

  • there may be a displacement of the trachea and the lung apex away from the effusion if it is very large
  • there is reduced movement of the affected side
  • the site of the pleural effusion is dull to percussion; classical stony dullness is not a constant sign
  • there is reduced vocal fremitus over a pleural effusion
  • breath sounds are reduced or absent over a pleural effusion
  • towards the upper part of an effusion there may be signs of consolidation i.e. bronchial breathing and bleating vocal resonance - aegophony
  • the presence of Grocco's triangle is considered to be pathognomonic

Reference:


Create an account to add page annotations

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.