Table of Contents: 

Chapter 1.     The History of Pleural Disease

Chapter 2.     Anatomy of the Pleura

Chapter 3.     Physiology of the Pleura

Chapter 4.     Pathophysiology of the Pleura

Chapter 5.     Respiratory Function in Pleural Effusion

Chapter 6.     Imaging of the Pleura

Chapter 7.     The Role of Ultrasonography in the Evaluation of Pleural Diseases

Chapter 8.     Pleural Thoracentesis and Biology

Chapter 9.     Chest Tubes

Chapter 10.   Pleural Lavage as a Diagnostic and Research Tool

Chapter 11.   Medical Thoracoscopy

Chapter 12.   Diagnostic Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery in Pleural Disease

Chapter 13.   Therapeutic Use of Thoracoscopy for Pleural Diseases

Chapter 14.   Discrimination Between Transudative and Exudative Pleural Effusions:  Evaluating Diagnostic Tests in the Pleural Space

Chapter 15.   Differentiating Between Benign and Malignant Pleural Effusions

Chapter 16.   Clinical Evaluation of the Patient with a Pleural Effusion

Chapter 17.   Transudate Pleural Effusions

Chapter 18.   Interventional Radiology of Pleural Disease

Chapter 19.   Drug-Induced Pleural Diseases

Chapter 20.   Parapneumonic Pleural Effusions and Empyema

Chapter 21.   Postsurgical Pleural Infection

Chapter 22.   Surgical Management of Empyema

Chapter 23.   Malignant Pleural Effusions

Chapter 24.   Pleural Effusion in Lung Carcinoma

Chapter 25.   Benign Tumors of the Pleura

Chapter 26.   Pleurodesis

Chapter 27.   Pleuroperitoneal Shunts in Malignant Effusions

Chapter 28.   Mesothelioma:  Benign and Malignant

Chapter 29.   Extrapleural Pneumonectomy for Early-Stage Diffuse Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Chapter 30.   Benign Asbestos-Related Pleural Disease

Chapter 31.   Pleural Manifestations of Interstitial Lung Disease

Chapter 32.   Immunological Diseases of the Pleura

Chapter 33.   Pleural Effusions in Blood Diseases

Chapter 34.   Pleural Effusions in HIV

Chapter 35.   Pneumothorax

Chapter 36.   Tuberculous Pleuritis

Chapter 37.   Pleural Effusions in Children

Chapter 38.   Pleural Effusions in Cardiac Disease

Chapter 39.   Pleural Effusions in Pregnancy and Gynecological Diseases

Chapter 40.   Pleural Disease in the Intensive Care Unit

Chapter 41.   Pleural Effusions in Gastrointestinal Tract Diseases

Chapter 42.   Pleural Effusions in Pulmonary Embolism

Chapter 43.   Pleural Effusions Secondary to Fungal , Nocardial, and Actinomycotic Infection

Chapter 44.   Pleural Effusions in Parasitic Infections

Chapter 45.   Iatrogenic and Rare Pleural Effusions

Chapter 46.   Management of the Undiagnosed Persistent Pleural Effusion

Chapter 47.   Hemothorax

Chapter 48.   Cylothorax and Pseudochylothorax

Chapter 49.   The Pleural Space and Organ Transplantation

Chapter 50.   Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics in Pleural Fluid

Chapter 51.   Animal Models in Pleural Investigation