Fun new question abt pleural effusions

[biowham]

Two years ago, I had an MRI of brain and spine. The neuroradiologist reading it failed to note a pleural effusion on it. A couple of months later, Neuro 2 actually noticed it and sent me for a lung CT, which came back clear except for a small area of atelectasis that the reader said was not significant. I was fine with that, as pleural effusions can mean something not so great.

Just had my most recent MRI...and this time, the neuroradiologist actually noted that there was STILL a pleural effusion...but said it was "smaller" that the one from 2 years ago. I dismissed the first one as a possible viral infx kind of thing, but I have no infections right now, certainly not any cough or anything.

Can anyone speak to having these, why I'd have one for two years, etc.? My scatty neuro read over that and then dropped it, never referred back to it again.

Thanks,
Bio

[biowham]

Thanks, Quix. I couldn't find anything dismissable for a pleural effusion that had been around that long...or come back...or whatever this one has done. Like I said, when the CT didn't show anything after that first one, I just attributed it to a viral infection.

Bio

[Quixotic1]

Bio - it is true that plueral effusions are neither wonderful in and of themselves, but the things that cause them can be dire.

Has anyone considered a paraneoplastic syndrome for you like summerluvr had?  It can be a pretty perfect mimic for MS and there is an "anti-paraneoplasm panel" than can be run.  

Other causes, inflammatory autoimmune diseases, infections, renal failure, heart failure, those are off the top of my head right now, but a quick google will give you a full differential.  The question is whether it is mostly protein and fluid (transudative and thinner) or whether it is pus-related (exudative and thick) which is discovered by a tap of the fluid - sounds horrendous but really is not.  My mom had 2 liters tapped off last fall and joked around the whole time.  I've done a couple.  I'm not offering.  

One thing they can do is lie you on your side and see if it runs down or if it stays in place.

That is NOT the kind of thing that should be "overlooked."   Sheesh!

Quix