Disorders of the Pleural Space: Gas, Liquid, and Solid
1Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
2Hyogo College of Medicine, Hyōgo, Japan
Disorders of the Pleural Space: Gas, Liquid, and Solid
Description
The exact purpose of the pleura is not known. It is, however, a marvel of physiology and engineering: balancing fluid exchange, fighting infection, clearing debris, and preventing and clearing any gas in the space despite a net negative pressure. In the setting of trauma, infection, malignancy, or a myriad of other pathologic conditions, the exquisite balance of the pleura can be perturbed. Such changes can result in accumulation of gas, liquid, or solid material in the pleural space. These conditions can range from asymptomatic to rapidly fatal. Each condition can be provoked by a benign or malignant process and can be the result of a primary disorder of the pleura or secondary to pathology at another site. Despite its robust immune system, cancers of the pleura are among the most virulent and lethal known to man. We are interested in articles that explore different aspects of the pleura and/or pleural space in the form of review articles, case reports, technique reports, physiology, embryology, basic science research, translational research, or clinical research. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:
- Physiology of the pleural space
- Embryology and/or development of the pleura/pleural space
- Diagnosis and/or imaging of disorders of the pleura/pleural space
- Management of infectious processes of the pleural space
- Management of rheumatologic processes of the pleural space
- Management of traumatic processes of the pleural space
- Treatment of pneumothorax
- Treatment of chylothorax
- Treatment of hemothorax
- Treatment of pyothorax
- Treatment of recurrent benign pleural effusion
- Treatment of malignant pleural effusion
- Treatment of fibrothorax
- Treatment of mesothelioma or other primary pleural cancers
- Treatment of metastatic cancers to the pleura
- Treatment or prevention of reexpansion pulmonary edema
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