4. Diagnosis of Pleural Effusion
If you suspect you may be suffering from pleural effusion, you should seek medical attention to get a proper diagnosis. Most people don’t realize they have pleural effusion until the symptoms become severe. They may attempt to treat the symptoms at home and only seek the help of a doctor when those treatments fail.
The reason many treatments don’t work is that the underlying cause of the pleural effusion needs to be treated as well as the symptoms. There are many different possible causes and doctors may conduct a variety of tests to make the proper diagnosis. Some common diagnostic tests include,
- CT scan
- X-rays
- Ultrasound
- Blood test
Once doctors find the cause of the pleural effusion, they can help find proper treatment. In some cases, it may take several diagnostic tests to rule out one cause and confirm another. In some cases, there is no known cause for the pleural effusion.