Type:
Educational Exhibit
Keywords:
Lung, Mediastinum, Respiratory system, CT, PET-CT, Digital radiography, Sampling, Diagnostic procedure, Biopsy, Pathology, Cancer, Infection
Authors:
A. Gangahar 1, Z. Wahab1, J. Zhong1, H. Nejadhamzeeigilani1, M. Kon2; 1Leeds/UK, 2Bradford/UK
DOI:
10.1594/ecr2018/C-2480
Background
Pleural Anatomy
- Pleura = serous membranes that line the lungs and thoracic cavity.
- Function = facilitate efficient respiration.
- Visceral pleura - covers the lungs
- Parietal pleura - covers the internal surface of the thoracic cavity. o Parietal pleura further subdivided into costal,
diaphragmatic,
mediastinal and cervical surfaces.
- o The blood supply differs for the two parts of the pleura,
with the parietal pleura being supplied by systemic vessels,
and the visceral pleura from the pulmonary and bronchial circulation.
- The potential space between these two layers = pleural space or cavity.
- Up to 20 mls of serous fluid is present within the pleural cavity,
which acts to lubricate the surfaces of the pleurae,
allowing them to slide over each other.
- The serous fluid also produces a surface tension,
pulling the parietal and visceral pleura together.
This ensures that when the thorax expands,
the lung also expands,
filling with air.
There are a number of pathologies which affect the pleural space,
pleura and lung parenchyma.
It is essential for Radiologists to be able to differentiate between these different disease processes in order to aid diagnosis and management of patients.
Fig. 1 shows an approach to diagnosing pleura and pleural space pathology on a frontal chest x-ray.