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Diagnosis and Tests for Pleurisy



The diagnosis of pleurisy requires several tests and diagnostic techniques. Since pleurisy involves the grating and rubbing of the pleural walls together, the friction generates a noise that is typically called a friction rub. Your health care provider is able to hear this noise when they listen to your chest cavity with the help of a stethoscope. In severe cases, the health care provider is even able to listen to the noise without the help of any medical instruments.

Doctors may recommend several tests for pleurisy and these tests help in the diagnosis of the condition. Some of the common tests include:

  • Complete Blood Count: This test can help determine the red blood and white blood count. This also helps the doctors find indications of underlying infections and possibly even presence of cancerous elements in the body.
  • CT Scan of the Chest: A cross sectional scan of the chest can help doctors see any pleural effusions or inflammation in the pleura.
  • Thoracentesis: This is a test in which the fluid in the chest cavity is aspired using a needle. The fluid may be sent to a lab for analysis. The analysis of the fluids may help the doctors understand the causes of the pleurisy.
  • Chest Ultrasound: This test utilizes sound waves to check for blockages in the lungs and the thoracic cavity. If there is stuffiness or blockage, these are easy to find with the help of an ultrasound.
  • Chest X-rays: The X-rays may not always be helpful because they are not as detailed as a CT scan. However, they are usually the first tests that a doctor recommends.

Signs & Symptoms
Prognosis
Frequently asked questions
References
  1. F.R.G. Heaf, Clifford Hillingworth, The management of pleurisy and pleural effusion cases, British Journal of Tuberculosis and Diseases of the Chest, Volume 38, Issue 1, January 1944, Pages 10-13, ISSN 0366-0869, 10.1016/S0366-0869(44)80023-5.
  2. Tariq Ansari, Steven Idell, MANAGEMENT OF UNDIAGNOSED PERSISTENT PLEURAL EFFUSIONS, Clinics in Chest Medicine, Volume 19, Issue 2, 1 June 1998, Pages 407-417, ISSN 0272-5231, 10.1016/S0272-5231(05)70087-3.