What causes a large amount of pleural effusion on the left side?
Disease description:
I occasionally experience chest tightness and shortness of breath, and I found it is caused by pleural effusion. What could cause a large amount of pleural effusion on the left side?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Sun Qifeng
Large left-sided pleural effusion may be caused by inflammation, and it can also result from cardiac-origin hypoalbuminemia, thoracic malignancies, or chronic pleuritis. Patients with significant left-sided pleural effusion should go to the hospital for a CT scan. If the condition is severe, drainage of the pleural effusion can be performed to remove the accumulated fluid.
