Pleural diseases are frequently managed in primary care, but specialist knowledge is required to understand the full variety of presentations and available treatments in this rapidly developing field.ABC of Pleural Diseasesis a brand new addition to the ABC Series which takes a unique approach to these conditions by dealing with them as a related group as well as in their individual manifestations.

The book provides a unique and comprehensive overview of pleural disease, beginning with the anatomy and physiology of the pleura. It then covers a wide range of specific conditions in greater detail, including pneumothorax, pleural effusions, pleural infections, as well as chapters on radiology and pathology. Full coverage is given of mesothelioma, the most common pleural cancer.

Written by a team of specialists, this reference guide to pleural diseases is a practical guide for General Practitioners, Junior Doctors, Specialist Nurses, Radiologists and all Healthcare Professionals working within chest medicine.

Najib M. Rahman, Associate Professor of Respiratory Medicine, Nuffield Department of Medicine and Clinical Director, Oxford Respiratory Trials Unit, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.

Ian Hunt, Consultant Thoracic Surgeon at St George's Hospital, Honorary Consultant at the Royal Marsden Hospital, Honorary Senior Lecturer at St George's, University of London, London, UK.

Fergus V. Gleeson, Consultant Radiologist and Professor of Radiology, University of Oxford; Director of the Oxford Imaging Trials Unit, and Divisional Director for the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, London, UK.

Nick A. Maskell, Professor of Respiratory Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.

Contributors vii

1 Anatomy and Physiology of the Pleura 1
John P. Corcoran and Najib M. Rahman

2 Radiology of Pleural Disease 5
Rob J. Hallifax, John P. Corcoran and Najib M. Rahman

3 Pneumothorax 9
John Harvey, Andrew McDuff and Ian Hunt

4 Investigation of Pleural Effusions 13
Clare E. Hooper

5 Pleural Pathology 21
Brendan Tinwell and Ian Hunt

6 Unusual Causes of Pleural Disease 29
David Feller?]Kopman

7 Pleural Infection 33
Ian Hunt and Najib M. Rahman

8 Management of Malignant Pleural Effusions 39
Anna C. Bibby, Nick A. Maskell and Rahul Bhatnagar

9 Malignant Mesothelioma 47
Carol Tan, Fergus V. Gleeson and Y.C. Gary Lee

10 Pleural Interventions Section A: Pleural Aspiration 53
Ambika Talwar, Ahmed Yousuf and Najib M. Rahman

Section B: Chest Drain Insertion 56
Ahmed Yousuf and Najib M. Rahman

Section C: Insertion of an Indwelling Pleural Catheter 60
Anna C. Bibby and Nick A. Maskell

11 Medical Thoracoscopy

Section A: Rigid Thoracoscopy 63
Matthew Evison, Ambika Talwar, Ahmed Yousuf and Mohammed Munavvar

Section B: Semi?]Rigid Thoracoscopy 69
Matthew Evison and Mohammed Munavvar

12 Surgical Management of Pleural Disease 73
Stephanie Fraser and Ian Hunt

Index 77